Old Castle

Stuttgart, Germany, Germany

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The Old Castle in Stuttgart, Germany, traces its origins to a 10th-century water fortress built around 950 by Duke Liudolf of Swabia to protect a vital stud farm that named the city, later becoming the main residence for Württemberg's Counts and Dukes from 1311 under Eberhard I.

Expanded in the Renaissance era with Gothic elements like the Dürnitz wing, arcaded courtyard, equestrian staircase, and castle church—one of Germany's first Protestant churches—it symbolized ducal power until eclipsed by the New Castle in the 18th century, suffering repeated war damage before postwar restoration.

Today, it anchors Schillerplatz as home to the Württemberg State Museum, showcasing 250,000 years of regional history from Stone Age artifacts to royal crowns, alongside the active Schlosskirche burial site for rulers like King Charles I. This central landmark blends medieval might with cultural treasures amid Stuttgart's vibrant core.