Once, a queen lived here. This is the Schwedenpalais. Look closely at its facade. See the fine ornaments crafted in the Louis Seize style. The Schwedenpalais stands opposite the Staatliche Kunsthalle. Notice the high windows of the Beletage. There is a balcony above. A Freitreppe or open staircase adds to its elegance.
The Schwedenpalais was built between 1768 and 1770. Johann Friedrich Weyhing designed it. Georg Ernst Ludwig von Preuschen commissioned the building. He was a privy councilor.
But why is it called Schwedenpalais? It got its name from Queen Friederike of Sweden. She was Friederike Dorothea von Baden. She lived here after her dethronement. Friederike was the sister of Grand Duke Karl Ludwig of Baden. After Napoleon’s fall, Sweden offered the royal family a payment. King Gustav, Friederike’s former husband, refused the money. Friederike, now separated from Gustav, accepted it. She used it to buy this home for herself and her children. She occupied seven rooms on the Beletage. The building was officially named Schwedenpalais in 1884.
Friederike’s life was one of both privilege and turmoil. Born a princess, she became queen through marriage. But political upheaval led to her husband’s abdication. She found solace in her hometown of Karlsruhe. She chose the Schwedenpalais as her refuge.
The Schwedenpalais has served many purposes over the years. From 1927 to 1933, Hans Waag, director of the Badisches Landestheater, lived here. In 1919, state authorities began using the building. Today, the Schwedenpalais houses the Führungsakademie Baden-Württemberg. This is the leadership academy of Baden-Württemberg.
Imagine Queen Friederike walking through these halls. She sought peace and stability. The Schwedenpalais offered her a sanctuary. Though her reign was over, she created a new life here. The Schwedenpalais stands as a reminder of her story. It is a story of resilience, family, and finding home again. Next time you pass by, remember the queen of Sweden who once resided within these walls. Her legacy lives on in the name and history of the Schwedenpalais.