Rastatt Residential Palace

The first Baroque residence on the Upper Rhine

WORTH A CLOSER LOOKHidden treasures

They are easy to miss, among all the other treasures in the palace, but they offer a great deal of history: a double portrait of two sisters, Chinese wall decor and an unusual wall sketch of a tomb.

Rastatt Residential Palace, lacquer painting

Palace exoticism

Black walls, golden paintings with cheerful Chinese figures characterize the lacquer cabinet, an example of the period's enthusiasm for all things Asian.

Lacquer cabinet

Sibylla Augusta and Anna Maria Franziska von Sachsen-Lauenburg, painting circa 1690

A jealous older sister

Two rich sisters competing for a husband: Great discord existed between Sibylla Augusta and her sister.

The double portrait

Sketch of the planned tomb for the Türkenlouis on a ground floor wall in Rastatt Palace, 18th century

Remembering the Türkenlouis

A giant draft of Ludwig Wilhelm's tomb, drawn not on paper, but on the wall! A highly unusual sketch.

Design for the Türkenlouis' tomb

Rastatt Residential Palace, ceiling fresco

Finding of the Holy Cross

Told in dramatic detail: the story of the discovery of the Holy Cross by St. Helena.

The ceiling fresco