The Monrepos Lake Castle, located in Ludwigsburg-Egolsheim in the Monrepos estate, a 250-hectare English park landscape, is both a magical lake castle and a true Rococo jewel. As early as 1714, Duke Eberhard Ludwig built a hunting lodge in the form of an octagonal pavilion on the northern shore of Lake Egolsheim, which he called Seehäuslein. Under the new regent, Duke Carl Eugen, the entire area was landscaped in Baroque style. From 1760 to 1765, a magnificent lake castle was built according to the plans of architect Philippe de La Guêpière. However, it fell into oblivion. It was not until Duke Frederick I, who became king three years later, that the lakeside palace was awakened from its 30-year slumber. Under the master builder Nikolaus Friedrich Thouret, the lakeside palace was redesigned in the classical style and the palace park in the English landscape style. During this time, two artificial islands were also created in the lake, the so-called Amor Island and Chapel Island. In 1804, the lakeside castle was given the name Monrepos, “My Rest,” and, in addition to an agricultural estate, also had a large animal park. Opposite the lakeside castle, a festival building with a theater was constructed, which was connected by a corridor to the theater of Grafeneck Castle in the Swabian Alb, which had been moved to Egolsheim. After the death of King Frederick I in 1816, his widow Charlotte Mathilde inherited the castle. She had the festival building and the theater demolished. After her death, King William I bought the castle and estate for the Court Domains Chamber. He gave up the animal park and renamed the castle Seegut. However, under the new regent, King Karl, the domain was given back its original name of Monrepos, which was leased from 1870 and acquired an inn in 1890. Over time, Monrepos became a popular recreational area in the vicinity of Ludwigsburg. During World War II, only the neo-Gothic chapel on Kapelleninsel (Chapel Island) was hit by a bomb attack and has been in ruins ever since. Since 1969, there has also been a castle hotel there, which was expanded in 1975. Today, the Monrepos estate is home to the Court Chamber and the Duke of Württemberg’s winery, as well as an 18-hole golf course and the Ludwigsburg Riding Club. Monrepos Castle is a romantic natural paradise with breathtaking views of Lake Egolsheim, which is teeming with swans, ducks, geese, and boats in summer. In addition, extensive avenues invite you to take a leisurely stroll, connecting the magnificent residential palace and the Favorite pleasure palace, two dreamlike castles in the city of Ludwigsburg.
