Erbgroßherzogliches Palais, Baroque revival palace in Karlsruhe, Germany.
The Erbgroßherzogliches Palais is a baroque revival palace in Karlsruhe with a two-story facade featuring a central three-axis projection and high entrance portal. A glass dome crowns the grand staircase inside, creating a focal point of the interior space.
Built between 1891 and 1897 for Crown Prince Friedrich II of Baden and his wife Hilda of Nassau, the palace was designed by architect Josef Durm. The project represented a shift toward modernizing the city's architectural character at the turn of the century.
A marble memorial inside honors 34 judges and lawyers who died in Soviet captivity during World War II, shaping the somber character of the space. This reminder reflects the building's role as a place where German justice was carried out and remembered.
The building has served as the headquarters of the Federal Court of Justice since 1958, functioning as Germany's highest court for civil cases. Visitors should note that access may be limited due to its active use as a judicial facility.
The four-hectare grounds blend garden elements from the Weinbrenner era with Durm's late 19th-century redesign, creating layers of landscape history. This layering of two periods makes the gardens a hidden treasure that many visitors walk past without noticing.
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