“Carolus Otio” is not just an inscription. It is the motto etched into the very stones of Schloss Scharnhausen. “To Karl for leisure”. It speaks volumes about the story we are about to uncover.
Welcome to Schloss Scharnhausen. This charming palace resides in Scharnhausen, a district of Ostfildern. Ostfildern is in the Esslingen district near Stuttgart. It is more than just a building. It is a testament to love and leisure.
Duke Carl Eugen of Würtemberg commissioned Schloss Scharnhausen in 1784. He intended it as a retreat for his mistress, Franziska von Hohenheim. Later, she became his wife. Imagine the Duke desiring a peaceful escape from his royal duties. He wanted a place close to Schloss Hohenheim. Schloss Scharnhausen became his haven.
The palace boasts an early classicist style. Reinhard Ferdinand Heinrich Fischer designed it. It features two stories and a hipped roof. A portico graces the entrance. Four ionic columns support this elegant structure. Take note of the triangular gable above. “Carolus Otio” is carved there. This inscription reflects the palace’s purpose.
Originally, Schloss Scharnhausen included two pavilions. They flanked the main building. The western pavilion served as a dining hall. It was playfully called the Spielhaus. The eastern one was a bathhouse. It provided a place for relaxation.
The grounds evolved over time. In 1788, an English landscape garden was added. It featured artificial hills and an oval lake. The Amortempel, or Temple of Amor, still stands today. It is a square temple reminiscent of a Monopteros. Twelve ionic columns support its roof. Three columns adorn each corner.
King Wilhelm I, Carl Eugen’s nephew, had a passion for horses. In 1810, he established a stud farm here. This was a predecessor to the renowned stud in Weil. The oval lake was filled in to create a horse racetrack. This transformation marked a new chapter for Schloss Scharnhausen.
After the Kingdom of Württemberg ended, the House of Württemberg retained ownership. They leased part of the park to the Agricultural College of Hohenheim. A significant portion of the park was ceded to the air force in 1933. They needed the land to build the Nellingen airbase.
After the war, Schloss Scharnhausen served as accommodation for displaced people. Later, it was used privately. It housed apartments and even a veterinary practice.
Today, the “Schlössle,” as it is affectionately known, offers an idyllic setting. Since 2011, the HPZ, a therapy center, has been located here. Its premises house a physiotherapy practice. Therapeutic riding takes place outside. This continues the tradition of horses at Schloss Scharnhausen.
Schloss Scharnhausen stands as a reminder of love. It is a testament to leisure and the enduring connection between humans and horses. The legacy of Duke Carl Eugen lives on in these walls. It offers a peaceful escape from the everyday.