Karlsruhe Palace

Welcome to Karlsruhe Palace

Margrave Karl Wilhelm von Baden-Durlach had his new residence "Carols Ruh" built in the middle of the forest on June 17, 1715. What was initially planned as a pleasure palace soon became the first and central building of the new city of Karlsruhe.

The Karlsruhe Palace

The 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 renovations and extensions based on plans by Balthasar Neumann and realized 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 palace tower, which originally stood free, to the central building and added the characteristic dome.

Carlsruhe Palace is the center of the Carlsruhe city layout, the "fan" 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's layout can best be seen from the castle tower.

The castle has been home to the Badisches Landesmuseum since 1921. In September 1944, large parts of the palace were destroyed by firebombs. During the reconstruction, however, it was decided to only reconstruct 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 through to the 21st century.

Note on the closure

The Karlsruhe Palace (Baden State Museum and Palace Tower) will be closed for an extended period from September 29, 2025 due to general renovation. The exhibition and tower can still be visited up to and including September 28, 2025.

Tip

Happy Friday: 
Free admission to the collection exhibitions of the Baden State Museum every Friday from 2 to 6 pm and free guided tour of Karlsruhe Palace at 4 pm.

Source: DZT Knowledge Graph