Schloss Kirchheim (Teck)
Encyclopedia
Schloss Kirchheim is situated near the old town of Kirchheim unter Teck
. This Renaissance castle is the best preserved example of Württemberg
duchy strongholds.
ordered seven fortresses to be constructed across the country, in order to better protect its territory from other countries. As part of these measures, the fortifications of Kirchheim unter Teck were expanded and in 1538, the castle was established as a corner rampart of the city wall. This simple functional building with two timber floors with a massive base was completed in 1556 under Ulrich's son and successor, Duke Christoph
. At first, the modest palace of the rulers was used for defensive purposes and occasionally as a hunting lodge.
When the plague raged in the capital city of Stuttgart
in 1594, Frederick I
moved his court here. Over time, its importance as a regional fortress decreased and it was gradually transformed into a residential palace.
The building has an irregular diamond shape, with four wings. It was surrounded by a deep moat, which has now been drained. On one side, it still connects to the city walls.
and Göppingen
.
Among the residents:
Kirchheim Castle is one of the state's monuments and is maintained by the organization State Palaces and Gardens of Baden-Württemberg. The grand living spaces on the south side of the second floor are set up as a palace museum and are open to the public. They are dedicated to the last two residents, Franziska and Henriette. Most of Franziska's furniture has been preserved, and this allowed the state of the castle during Franziska's days to be restored when the castle was reconditioned in 1985 and 1997.
Kirchheim unter Teck
Kirchheim unter Teck is a town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, in the district of Esslingen. It is located on the small river Lauter, a tributary of the Neckar. It is situated near the Teck castle, approximatively 25 km southeast of Stuttgart...
. This Renaissance castle is the best preserved example of Württemberg
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
duchy strongholds.
History
On his return from exile, duke Ulrich of WürttembergUlrich, Duke of Württemberg
Herzog Ulrich von Württemberg succeeded his kinsman Eberhard II as Duke of Württemberg in 1498, being declared of age in 1503.-Early life:...
ordered seven fortresses to be constructed across the country, in order to better protect its territory from other countries. As part of these measures, the fortifications of Kirchheim unter Teck were expanded and in 1538, the castle was established as a corner rampart of the city wall. This simple functional building with two timber floors with a massive base was completed in 1556 under Ulrich's son and successor, Duke Christoph
Christoph, Duke of Württemberg
Christoph of Württemberg, Duke of Württemberg ruled as Duke of Württemberg from 1550 until his death in 1568....
. At first, the modest palace of the rulers was used for defensive purposes and occasionally as a hunting lodge.
When the plague raged in the capital city of Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
in 1594, Frederick I
Frederick I, Duke of Württemberg
Friedrich I of Württemberg was the son of Georg of Mömpelgard and his wife Barbara of Hesse, daughter of Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse....
moved his court here. Over time, its importance as a regional fortress decreased and it was gradually transformed into a residential palace.
The building has an irregular diamond shape, with four wings. It was surrounded by a deep moat, which has now been drained. On one side, it still connects to the city walls.
The residents
During a two century period starting in 1628, Kirchheim castle served as the residence of the widows of some of the dukes. Residences used by the widows of other dukes included the castles in NürtingenNürtingen
Nürtingen is a town in the district of Esslingen in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. It is located on the river Neckar.-History:The following events occurred, by year:*1046 : First mention of Niuritingin in the document of Speyer...
and Göppingen
Göppingen
Göppingen is a town in southern Germany, part of the Stuttgart Region of Baden-Württemberg. It is the capital of the district Göppingen. It is situated at the bottom of the Hohenstaufen mountain, in the valley of the river Fils....
.
Among the residents:
- 1628-1632 Duchess Barbara Sophia of Brandenburg (1584-1636), daughter of Elector Joachim III Frederick of Brandenburg and wife of Duke John Frederick.
- 1675-1690 Duchess Maria Dorothea (1639-1698), born Countess of Oettingen was the wife of Duke Eberhard IIIEberhard III, Duke of WürttembergEberhard III, Duke of Württemberg ruled as Duke of Württemberg from 1628 until his death in 1674....
. - 1694-1712 Duchess Magdalena Sibylla of Hesse-DarmstadtMagdalena Sibylla of Hesse-DarmstadtLandgravine Magdalena Sibylla of Hesse-Darmstadt was regent of the Duchy of Württemberg from 1677 to 1693, and was a prominent German composer of baroque hymns.- Life :...
(1652-1712), daughter of Landgrave Louis VI of Hesse-DarmstadtLouis VI, Landgrave of Hesse-DarmstadtLouis VI of Hesse-Darmstadt was Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt from 1661 to 1678.He was the eldest of three sons of the Landgrave George II of Hesse-Darmstadt and Sophia Eleonore of Saxony.- Marriage and children :...
and Maria Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp. She was the wife of Duke William Louis of Württemberg. She initiated the lavish decoration of the chapel Kirchheim castle. - 1735-1757 Duchess Joanna ElisabethJoanna Elisabeth of Baden-DurlachJohanna Elisabeth of Baden-Durlach , was by marriage Duchess of Württemberg.-Marriage:Johanna of Baden-Durlach was born in the Karlsberg, Durlach, the third child of Friedrich VII Magnus, Margrave of Baden-Durlach and his wife Auguste Marie of Holstein-Gottorp .In 1697 she was married in a...
of Baden-Durlach (1680-1757), daughter of Margrave Friedrich VII of Baden-DurlachFriedrich VII, Margrave of Baden-DurlachFriedrich VII Magnus of Zähringen was the Margrave of Baden-Durlach from 1677 until his death.Born at Ueckermünde, he was the son of Margrave Friedrich VI and Countess Palatine Christine Magdalene of Cleeburg....
and wife of Duke Eberhard Louis. - 1795-1811 Duchess Franziska of HohenheimFranziska von HohenheimFranziska Theresia Reichsgräfin von Hohenheim was a German noblewoman. From 1774 she was known as Freiin von Bernerdin and from 1765 onwards as Freifrau Leutrum von Ertingen. She was the official mistress of Charles Eugene, Duke of Württemberg from 1772 to 1785, when she became his second wife...
(1748-1811). She moved into the castle on 22 January 1795 as a widow Duke Charles Eugene and had it remodeled by the ducal architect Reinhard Heinrich Ferdinand FischerReinhard Heinrich Ferdinand FischerReinhard Heinrich Ferdinand Fischer was a German architect and master builder of Duke Charles Eugene of Württemberg.- Life :...
inside and out. New portals were constructed, two small rooms were added on the first floor and a palace terrace was created. The rooms were furnished in the Empire styleEmpire (style)The Empire style, , sometimes considered the second phase of Neoclassicism, is an early-19th-century design movement in architecture, furniture, other decorative arts, and the visual arts followed in Europe and America until around 1830, although in the U. S. it continued in popularity in...
. - 1811-1857 Duchess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg (1780-1857), daughter of Prince Charles Christian of Nassau-WeilburgCharles Christian, Prince of Nassau-WeilburgCharles Christian, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg , till 1753 Count of Nassau-Weilburg, was the first ruler of the Principality of Nassau-Weilburg between 1753 and 1788....
and Princess Carolina of OrangeCarolina of Orange-NassauPrincess Carolina of Orange and Nassau-Dietz, Princess of Nassau-Weilburg was the daughter of William IV, Prince of Orange, Stadtholder of the Netherlands, and Anne, Princess Royal.Her maternal grandparents were King George II of Great Britain and Queen Caroline.-Regent:Princess Carolina was born in...
. At first, she occupied th castle together with her husband Duke Louis of WürttembergDuke Louis of WürttembergDuke Louis of Württemberg was the second son of Friedrich II Eugen, Duke of Württemberg and Margravine Sophia Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt...
(1756-1817). She was buried in the Stuttgart Collegiate ChurchStiftskirche (Stuttgart)The Stiftskirche Stuttgart is an inner-city church in Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is the main church of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Württemberg as well as the parish church of the evangelical inner-city church district of Stuttgart.-History and...
.
Current use
After the death of Duchess Henriette, the castle Kirchheimer was used for various purposes. In 1870 and 1871 it served as a hospital for the wounded of the Franco-German War. From 1876 till 1908 the Catholic parish held its services in the chapel. From 1911 till 1948, it contained the city's vocational school for girls, a kindergarten and reidential units. In 1947 the state of Baden-Württemberg assigned the castle to the State Economics School (est. 1923) for teaching and boarding purposes. The Pedagogic Institute and School, the successor to the Economics School, moved into the castle in 1971 and has used the castle ever since.Kirchheim Castle is one of the state's monuments and is maintained by the organization State Palaces and Gardens of Baden-Württemberg. The grand living spaces on the south side of the second floor are set up as a palace museum and are open to the public. They are dedicated to the last two residents, Franziska and Henriette. Most of Franziska's furniture has been preserved, and this allowed the state of the castle during Franziska's days to be restored when the castle was reconditioned in 1985 and 1997.