Hereditary Grand Ducal Palace

The Erbgroßherzogliches Palais stands on Kriegsstraße in Karlsruhe. It is a Baroque Revival building constructed between 1891 and 1897 for the Hereditary Grand Duke Frederick II of Baden and his wife Hilda of Nassau. The palace replaced an earlier Classicist garden palace built in 1817 by Friedrich Weinbrenner for Grand Duchess Sophie. The Weinbrenner building, now used by the Federal Court of Justice, was once a gardener’s house. During the Second World War, the top floor and roof domes were destroyed and later reconstructed in 2012. The palace has been the seat of the Federal Court of Justice since 1950. The building holds a marble memorial plaque on its second floor, commemorating 34 judges and lawyers who died in Soviet captivity after 1945. A plaquette and an information sign were added in 2018 and 2021, acknowledging their roles under the Nazi regime. A stele on the first floor also honours victims of Nazi justice. The palace’s history reflects the political shifts of the 20th century, from grand ducal residence to a key judicial institution. Its architecture and memorials make it a place of historical significance. The building’s reconstruction and adaptations tell a story of resilience and change. The surrounding garden covers about four hectares and blends into a parklike area. The north side features Weinbrenner’s original 1817 design, including an artificial hill. The south side once had a cascade and fountain by Josef Durm, but these were lost in 1970. The Galatea Fountain, installed in 1954, remains as a later addition. Parts of the garden were used for parking until 2003, when elements like wide lawns and old trees were restored. Despite these changes, the park remains closed to the public due to security concerns. The garden’s layered history is visible in its surviving features and ongoing preservation.