Imagine a time when Stuttgart was graced by one of the most magnificent Renaissance buildings in Germany. That building was the Neues Lusthaus. Today only fragments remain. We stand before the Ruine der Freitreppenanlage des ehemaligen Neuen Lusthauses. It offers a glimpse into that opulent past.
The Neues Lusthaus was more than just a building. It was a symbol of ducal power and a stage for courtly life. Duke Ludwig of Württemberg commissioned it. He wanted a space dedicated to earthly pleasures and dynastic representation. Georg Beer was the master builder. He began work in 1584. The Neues Lusthaus was completed in 1593. Sadly Duke Ludwig died just days before its completion.
Imagine this impressive structure. It measured 77 by 34 meters. Ornate gables towered above the Stuttgart Stiftskirche. This made it the largest building in the city. Four towers marked its corners. Arkades surrounded the entire building. These featured 65 busts of Duke Ludwig’s ancestors. They formed an impressive ancestral gallery. Today these busts can be seen at Schloss Lichtenstein.
Step through the arkades into a grand hall. Twenty-seven columns supported cross-ribbed vaults. The vaults displayed the coats of arms of important cities in the principality. Three square water basins adorned the hall. From here grand staircases led to the upper floor. They provided access to the enormous festival hall.
The festival hall was truly breathtaking. It measured 57 meters long 20 meters wide and 14 meters high. It was one of the largest halls of its time. Elias Gunzenhäuser designed an innovative roof structure to support this vast space. A painted barrel vault adorned the ceiling.
Inside the festival hall wax figures of Duke Ludwig and his wives were displayed. Sixteen large panels depicted Württemberg’s forests in detail. A frieze showcased all of Duke Ludwig’s councilors. These details served to legitimize the Württemberg dynasty. Hidden music rooms above the doors added to the ambiance. Their openings were framed by statues. Secretly played music was an integral part of courtly celebrations.
The Neues Lusthaus did not remain a Renaissance masterpiece forever. In 1750 Duke Carl Eugen transformed it into an opera house. Leopoldo Retti oversaw the conversion. This destroyed the original interior of the festival hall. Later renovations further altered the building. Parts of the Renaissance structure were lost. New additions changed its appearance.
In 1811 Nikolaus Friedrich von Thouret converted it into the Royal Court Theater. The north gable was removed. Additions were made on all sides except the east facade. Only the upper part of the south gable hinted at the former Renaissance glory.
Another renovation occurred in 1845. The upper floors were demolished. The remaining parts of the Neues Lusthaus disappeared beneath the new construction. Carl Friedrich Beisbarth meticulously documented the remaining Renaissance elements. He secured the salvaged components.
Tragedy struck in 1902. The Royal Court Theater burned down. The fire revealed some original elements of the Neues Lusthaus. These had been walled in during previous renovations. There was a plan to rebuild the Lusthaus from these fragments. But the plan failed due to lack of funds.
In 1904 the western arcade with two flights of stairs was moved to the Schlossgarten. It stands here as a ruin. Today the Ruine der Freitreppenanlage des ehemaligen Neuen Lusthauses is supported by steel and wood. It serves as a reminder of Stuttgart’s rich Renaissance past. Gustav Wais called the original Neues Lusthaus one of the noblest creations of the German Renaissance. He said it would be Stuttgart’s main attraction if it still existed today. Other fragments of the Neues Lusthaus are in the Villa Berg park Schloss Lichtenstein and the Städtische Lapidarium.