Solitude Palace (Schloss Solitude)

Duke Carl Eugen of Württemberg wanted a retreat in his hunting grounds and called it "Solitude". What he got was a Rococo pleasure palace with a dome, sweeping staircases and terraces on a ridge west of Stuttgart, with a 13 km, ruler-straight avenue running all the way to the residential palace in Ludwigsburg. Schloss Solitude is small but lavishly decorated, and the view from the north terrace across the countryside alone is worth the trip up.

History: showpiece, school and military hospital

The palace was built from 1763 to 1769 to plans by Philippe de La Guêpière, with plenty of input from the duke himself. Outside it looks Baroque; inside, calm classical proportions already point towards Neoclassicism. Giacomo Casanova raved about the lavish court life and elaborate theatre evenings. But the project overstretched the duchy's finances, and as early as 1775 the court moved on to Hohenheim.

In 1770 Carl Eugen founded what later became the Hohe Karlsschule here, an elite school for sons of leading Württemberg families. Its most famous pupil was Friedrich Schiller, whose father ran the ducal gardens at Solitude from 1775. Later the palace became a day-trip destination, a military hospital in the war of 1870/71 and, after 1918, a hotel. By the 1960s the roofs were leaking and the ceiling paintings had been almost destroyed by water; everything was restored between 1972 and 1983. Since 1990, fellows of the Akademie Schloss Solitude have worked in the outbuildings.

What to see

• The White Hall: The festive hall beneath the dome is the heart of the palace.
• The palace chapel: A bright hall with columns and an organ, elegant rather than showy.
• The ceiling paintings: Nicolas Guibal's paintings celebrate the welfare of the land; most were carefully restored after the water damage.
• The dome: It opens only occasionally, but then offers the panoramic view once reserved for the duke.
• The Solitudeallee: It starts at the northern main gate and, despite the hills, runs perfectly straight to Ludwigsburg. That is why it served in 1820 as the baseline for the Württemberg land survey; a plaque in the palace gives its length as 13,032.14 m.

Tours, opening hours and admission (as of October 2026)

The interior can only be seen on a guided tour. Standard tours run several times a day from Wednesday to Sunday and on public holidays.

• 1 April to 31 October: ticket office Wednesday to Sunday and public holidays 10:00–17:00.
• 1 November to 31 March: Sundays and public holidays only, 10:00–16:00. Closed on 24 and 31 December.
• Admission with tour: adults €7, reduced €3.50, families €17.50. Special tours such as the night tour cost €10.
• Palace garden: open at all times, free.

Visitors aged 15 and over pay the adult price. The StuttCard and the Schlosscard are accepted. Photography is not allowed inside.

Getting there and parking

The address is Solitude 1, 70197 Stuttgart. From the main station take any S-Bahn to "Feuersee" and change to bus 92 to the "Solitude" stop. The large hikers' car park on Bergheimer Steige is closed until further notice because of building work, but there are other free car parks within walking distance. Parking in the palace courtyard is not allowed.

Tripto tip

Allow about one and a half to two hours for the tour, the terraces and a walk. The palace is not accessible: the state rooms are on the first floor and there is no lift, though a walking frame is fine. Dogs are allowed only in the garden, on a lead. If you like walking, follow the avenue a little way down the slope or explore the surrounding woods; for contrast, visit the residential palace in Ludwigsburg at the other end of the axis.