The New Palace is an 18th-century Baroque palace and one of the last major city palaces built in Southern Germany. The palace is located in the center of Stuttgart on Palace Square ( Schlossplatz ), in front of the Jubiläumssäule and Königsbau columns. Public tours of the building are permitted only by special arrangement, as the building houses several government offices. Once the historic residence of the Kings of Württemberg, the New Palace derives its name from the commission commissioned by Duke Carl Eugen of Württemberg to replace the Old Castle in the early years of his reign. Initially, Duke Eugen commissioned Nikolaus Friedrich Thouret, but later architects Leopold Retti, Philippe da la Guepière, Reinhard Heinrich Ferdinand Fischer also contributed to the design, history and construction of the palace.
When Duke Carl Eugen died in 1793, the New Palace received more repairs. The year 1789 saw the completion of the City Wing and the Garden Wing in 1791 under the rule of Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg. In 1806, when the palace was nearing completion, Napoleon Bonaparte visited the New Palace. Eleven years later, von Thouret redecorated some of the Great Hall's rooms with red marble during a visit by Tsar Alexander I.
During World War II air raids on February 21, 1944, the New Palace was almost completely burned down by Allied bombs, leaving only the façade standing. For years, conservationists fought to rebuild the palace, until 1957, when the Baden-Württemberg Landtag finally agreed that the castle would be rebuilt - by one vote. Since reconstruction began in 1958 under the careful direction of Horst Linde, the castle has been used by the State government, beginning with the Corps de Logis (Now used as a representative by the State Ministry) and two wings of the castle. The only part of the castle that has not been fully restored is the air raid bunker beneath the building, which was demolished in 1958.
Today, the New Palace is used by the State Ministry of Finance and Education and is now open to the public through regular guided tours.
Address: Schlossplatz 4, 70173 Stuttgart
Opening hours: daily 08:00 – 20:00