Stadtschloss Eisenach, Royal palace in Eisenach, Germany

Stadtschloss Eisenach is a four-winged Baroque complex on the north side of the market square with grand facades and ornate architectural details. The structure was originally designed as a ducal residence and displays typical Baroque characteristics with its symmetrical layout.

The present palace replaced an earlier residence demolished after Duchess Anna Sophie Charlotte, widow of the last Saxe-Eisenach duke, had it stripped "to the last nail" on her expulsion. The order to rebuild came on 20 January 1742; Gottfried Heinrich Krohne led construction on a site of six burgher houses, using cheap timber and old-residence parts. The market facade was finished in 1748, the year the duke died, and August Friedrich Straßburger completed the work in the 1750s. The east wing was demolished in 1933.

Since 1931 the palace has housed the Thüringer Museum. Its name recalls the legend that Duchess Anna Sophie Charlotte had the old residence emptied "down to the last nail" before leaving, which provoked the demolition and rebuilding. Since 2025 the Rococo Hall, 120 square metres across two storeys, also serves as a wedding room.

The complex is easily accessible on foot from the market square, and interior spaces are open to visitors. Tours can be arranged for groups, and there is ample space to explore the different collections at your own pace.

Part of the palace still houses the city archive and cultural office, showing how the historic structure serves modern administrative functions. This dual use keeps the building active within the city's daily operations.