Villa Reitzenstein, Official residence of the Minister President in Stuttgart, Germany.
Villa Reitzenstein is a stately residence in eastern Stuttgart built in French Baroque style with three wings using Maulbronn sandstone. The complex occupies a hillside location and is surrounded by a 2.5-hectare park that complements the building's formal design.
The estate was built between 1910 and 1913 for Baroness Helene von Reitzenstein, daughter of a Stuttgart publisher. After World War I, it passed to state ownership in 1921 and subsequently became the center of political power for Württemberg.
The surrounding parkland blends formal French garden designs with English landscape principles, creating spaces that reflect the region's refined taste from the early 1900s. Visitors can experience how these garden styles shape the way people move through and use the grounds today.
The park opens to visitors on selected weekends from April through October, and guided tours can be arranged by contacting the State Ministry office. It is advisable to inquire ahead of your visit to confirm availability and ensure a smooth experience.
During World War I, the building temporarily served as a military hospital for officers before transitioning to its role as a political center. This wartime conversion shows how such estates could be quickly adapted to serve different purposes during times of upheaval.
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