Donaueschingen Palace

Donaueschingen Palace, also known as the Fürstenberg palace, is a princely residence in French Baroque Revival architecture. It is the seat of the princes of Fürstenberg, who still own and live in the palace. It is surrounded by a large park, where next to the palace the source of the Danube is located in the northwestern edge. The palace can be visited during guided tours, as well as rented for events.

At the start of the 18th century, the territories of the Fürstenberg family were divided over various territories But as all family branches except one became extinct, the territories were reunified into one principality of Fürstenberg by 1744. As the village of Donaueschingen was centrally located, Joseph Wilhelm Ernst, Prince of Fürstenberg (1699–1762) decided to move his capital from Stühlingen to here.

As the existing building did not meet the requirements for the new capital of the principality, the decision was made to replace it by a new palace. František Maxmilián Kaňka was engaged to make the design for the palace in baroque style. Initially, plans were conceived for a grandiose complex comprising three wings with a large basin fed by the Danube basin. However, things turned out quite differently: In 1723, Prince Josef Wilhelm Ernst married Countess Anna Maria von Waldstein. His attention shifted to Prague, where Bohemia became his new focus. With a keen eye for finances, the lavish palace plans were set aside. Instead, only a side wing was built, serving as both administrative offices and living quarters for numerous princely officials. The building was rather plain and functional. It had approximately the same dimensions as the palace today: four stories high, 21 windows wide with a Mansard roof.

In the vicinity of the palace, further buildings were constructed such as the princely court library between 1732 and 1735, the Fürstenberg Brewery between 1705 and 1739, and the princely archives between 1756 and 1763.

In 1821, a fire destroyed the old western part of the castle, including the St. Nicholas Chapel.  After the burned parts were demolished, a neoclassical ballroom was constructed on the second floor. Between 1892 and 1896, Charles Egon IV, Prince of Fürstenberg (1852–1896) undertook a significant reconstruction of the palace, both inside and outside.

Interior

The interior design and furniture in neo-styles represent the periods from the Renaissance through Régence and Rococo to the Empire period. Noteworthy is the reception hall illuminated by a skylight, which houses, among other things, a wooden bench from around 1520 from the Strozzi family and a Florentine sandstone fireplace from around 1480. Both were acquired through the mediation of the art historian and Berlin museum director Wilhelm von Bode. The Great and Small Salons, the dining room, and the surprisingly modern bathroom for the princess at that time are also worth seeing.

References:

• Wikipedia

Address

Fürstenbergstraße 2, Donaueschingen, Germany

Details

Founded: 18th century
Category: Palaces, manors and town halls in Germany
Historical period: Thirty Years War & Rise of Prussia (Germany)