The Karlsruhe Palace
Karlsruhe Palace was built between 1715 and 1718. For almost 200 years, it served as the residence and seat of government of the margraves, then the electors and grand dukes of Baden.
The palace took on its current Baroque appearance in the second half of the 18th century following alterations and extensions based on plans by Balthasar Neumann and carried out by the architects Albrecht Friedrich von Kesslau, then director of construction at the Baden court, and his successor Wilhelm Jeremias Müller. Müller also connected the castle tower, which originally stood free, to the central building and added the characteristic dome.
Karlsruhe Palace is the center of Karlsruhe's city layout, the "fan", which is formed by 32 radial streets. Karlsruhe's architectural and urban history is concentrated along the "Via Triumphalis", the central axis of the rays emanating from the palace. The unique regularity and symmetry of the city layout can best be seen from the castle tower.
The castle has been home to the Baden State Museum since 1921. In September 1944, large parts of the palace were destroyed by firebombs. During the reconstruction, however, it was decided to reconstruct only the exterior in a historically correct manner. The interior was adapted to the requirements of a modern museum.
The Badisches Landesmuseum is one of the most active museums of cultural history in Germany. It presents art and historical worlds from prehistory and early history to ancient cultures, the Middle Ages and the Baroque period right up to the 21st century.
Note on the closure
Karlsruhe Palace (Baden State Museum and Palace Tower) has been closed for an extended period since September 29, 2025 for general renovation.Â
