The history of Ettlingen Castle began with the construction of a castle, which became necessary after Ettlingen was elevated to the status of a town by Emperor Henry VI in 1192. The keep, which is still preserved today, dates back to the time of the further expansion of the castle, which the Margraves of Baden undertook after they came into possession of the town in 1219.
After the division of the Margraviate of Baden between the brothers Ernst and Bernhard in 1535, they attempted to clearly demonstrate their power in Ettlingen to the House of Durlach by building a prestigious new castle complex. Completed around 1600, the Renaissance palace was built as a three-winged complex while retaining the medieval castle tower. During the War of the Palatinate Succession, the building was burnt down by the troops of the French King Louis XIV in 1689.
In1727, Margravine Sibylla Augusta (1675-1733), widow of Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm von Baden (1655-1707), decided to rebuild the ruins as a retirement home. Her court architect Johann Michael Ludwig Rohrer had a lavish Baroque palace built on the site, incorporating existing building elements.
The artistic highlight was the decoration of the castle chapel. The great late Baroque master Cosmas Damian Asam (1686-1739) was commissioned to create the fresco depicting the legend and life of St Nepomuk. The former palace chapel, now known as the Asam Hall, is mainly used as a concert hall.
The death of the margravine in 1733 marked the beginning of the castle's decline. It was initially used as a guest house, from 1812 as a military hospital and uniform arsenal, and from 1871 to house a Prussian non-commissioned officers' school until the palace became the property of the town of Ettlingen in 1912.
After various municipal uses, the castle now shines again in its baroque splendour and is primarily home to the Ettlingen Museum, which consists of the history of the town with archaeology, the history of the castle in the baroque halls, the municipal gallery, special exhibitions and a broad programme of events. Cultural events and the castle festival in the castle courtyard during the summer months provide further highlights.
