Sondershausen Palace
Encyclopedia
From an architectural and art historical point of view Sondershausen Palace can be considered as one of the most important palace complexes in Thuringia
. It is an irregular four-wing complex. With its imposing silhouette the former Schwarzburg residence dominates today's district town of Sondershausen
in the Kyffhäuserkreis
district.
There is proof that some of the oldest building fabrice of the castle dating from the end of the 13th century can be attributed to the Counts of Hohnstein.
The remaining tower was integrated under Count Günther XL of Schwarzburg when the Renaissance
palace, consisting of the south, east and old north wings, was built between the 1530s and the 1550s.
Under Prince Christian Wilhelm of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen , who reigned between 1666 and 1720, a busy building activity started in the 1680s. The three Renaissance wings of the palace were altered and enlarged in the Baroque style.
During the reign of Prince Christian Günther (1758–1794) the new west and north rococo
wings were started in 1764 under management of the Quedlinburg architect Johann Heinrich Breit and the former architect from Brunswick, Martin Peltier. At that time the palace received its final architectural layout of an irregular four-wing complex.
When Prince Günther Friedrich Carl II, who reigned from 1835 to 1880, engaged Carl Scheppig
, a pupil of Karl Friedrich Schinkel
, in 1836, his aim was to give most parts of the entire palace complex a completely new appearance. Financial constraints, however, limited this project to redesigning the eastern place area towards the market (palace terrace, guard house and stairs between 1837 and 1839), to rebuilding the rococo wings in the neo-classical
style (1846–1851) and to erecting the new stables (1847–1849).
As the last building measure a two-storey gallery, connecting the tower and the east and south wings, was erected in 1914 to 1915.
tectonics as well as transitional elements from Baroque to Neoclassicism
and finally Rococo
ornaments typical of the time. The large oval ceiling painting depicts the Callisto myth.
's "Metamorphoses" and 16 larger-than-life figures in the round made of stucco and represents Greek gods
. The fact that this hall was originally designed during the Renaissance explains the unusual proportions (26.6 x 13.2 metres) and the relatively low ceiling of 4.8 metres.
" of Sondershausen.
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
. It is an irregular four-wing complex. With its imposing silhouette the former Schwarzburg residence dominates today's district town of Sondershausen
Sondershausen
Sondershausen is a town in Thuringia, Germany, capital of the Kyffhäuserkreis district, situated about 50 km north of Erfurt. On 1 December 2007, the former municipality Schernberg was incorporated by Sondershausen....
in the Kyffhäuserkreis
Kyffhäuserkreis
The Kyffhäuserkreis is a district in the northern part of Thuringia, Germany. Neighboring districts are the districts Mansfeld-Südharz, Saalekreis und Burgenlandkreis in Saxony-Anhalt, and the districts Sömmerda, Unstrut-Hainich and Eichsfeld.-History:...
district.
History
The remaining tower was integrated under Count Günther XL of Schwarzburg when the Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
palace, consisting of the south, east and old north wings, was built between the 1530s and the 1550s.
Under Prince Christian Wilhelm of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen , who reigned between 1666 and 1720, a busy building activity started in the 1680s. The three Renaissance wings of the palace were altered and enlarged in the Baroque style.
During the reign of Prince Christian Günther (1758–1794) the new west and north rococo
Rococo
Rococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
wings were started in 1764 under management of the Quedlinburg architect Johann Heinrich Breit and the former architect from Brunswick, Martin Peltier. At that time the palace received its final architectural layout of an irregular four-wing complex.
When Prince Günther Friedrich Carl II, who reigned from 1835 to 1880, engaged Carl Scheppig
Carl Scheppig
Carl Friedrich Adolph Scheppig was a key architect of the late Neoclassicism in Germany and major student of the Berlin architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel....
, a pupil of Karl Friedrich Schinkel
Karl Friedrich Schinkel
Karl Friedrich Schinkel was a Prussian architect, city planner, and painter who also designed furniture and stage sets. Schinkel was one of the most prominent architects of Germany and designed both neoclassical and neogothic buildings.-Biography:Schinkel was born in Neuruppin, Margraviate of...
, in 1836, his aim was to give most parts of the entire palace complex a completely new appearance. Financial constraints, however, limited this project to redesigning the eastern place area towards the market (palace terrace, guard house and stairs between 1837 and 1839), to rebuilding the rococo wings in the neo-classical
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
style (1846–1851) and to erecting the new stables (1847–1849).
As the last building measure a two-storey gallery, connecting the tower and the east and south wings, was erected in 1914 to 1915.
The Blue Hall
Prince Christian Günther gave the hall in order in the 1760th. The hall in the Rococo style extends over the two upper storeys and has galleries on both long sides. The dominant colors are blue and white, they reflect the state colors of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen. In this hall one finds traces of traditional BaroqueBaroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
tectonics as well as transitional elements from Baroque to Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
and finally Rococo
Rococo
Rococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
ornaments typical of the time. The large oval ceiling painting depicts the Callisto myth.
The Giants' Hall
The construction of the hall going back to Count (later Prince) Christian Wilhelm of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen between 1680 and 1700. It is decorated in the style of the high Baroque with 22 ceiling paintings about scenes from OvidOvid
Publius Ovidius Naso , known as Ovid in the English-speaking world, was a Roman poet who is best known as the author of the three major collections of erotic poetry: Heroides, Amores, and Ars Amatoria...
's "Metamorphoses" and 16 larger-than-life figures in the round made of stucco and represents Greek gods
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
. The fact that this hall was originally designed during the Renaissance explains the unusual proportions (26.6 x 13.2 metres) and the relatively low ceiling of 4.8 metres.
The Stone Room
This room has preserved its original decorations from the 1770s. The name is derived from the wall covering consisting of small cut, polished and glazed tiles of plaster and limestone. In this form, the room is unique and it is known for its uniqueness as the "Amber RoomAmber Room
The Amber Room in the Catherine Palace of Tsarskoye Selo near Saint Petersburg is a complete chamber decoration of amber panels backed with gold leaf and mirrors...
" of Sondershausen.
Palace today
Since 1994, the former residence of the princes of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen is the property of the Palace, Castle and Gardens Trust of Thuringia. Today it houses the Palace Museum of Sondershausen and the districet school of music, called Carl-Schroeder-Konservatorium.Sources
- Heimatkunde für das Fürstentum Schwarzburg-Sondershausen 1920, Editor: F. Lammert
- Heimatkunde für die Bewohner des Fürstenthums Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, Editor: Apfelstedt
- Aus Sondershausens Vergangenheit Bd. 1, Editor: Günther Lutze
- Liebeserklärung an eine Stadt – Sondershausen, 2000; Editor: Bildarchiv Röttig