Here you will find romance and an eternal proof of love: King Wilhelm I had the burial chapel on the Württemberg built for his wife Katharina, who died young on 9 January 1819. Even the ancestral castle of his ancestors was demolished for this purpose, as the site was one of the deceased queen's favourite places. Above the main entrance you will find the inscription "Love never ceases". Later, the King himself and their eldest daughter Marie Friederike Charlotte von Württemberg found their final resting place in the chapel.
Perhaps the monument reminds you a little of the ancient Pantheon in Rome or Palladio's Villa Rotonda. That is no coincidence. For the building, erected between 1820 and 1824 according to the design of the court architect Giovanni Salucci, is one of the outstanding examples of classicist architecture in the Stuttgart area. Salucci created a round building from local sandstone with three column porticos and projecting staircases. The domed interior with its colossal statues of the four evangelists bears witness to the strict classicist taste in form of the time. In the basement is the burial chamber with the double sarcophagus of the royal couple and the single sarcophagus of the daughter.
Even today, the place captivates with a dreamlike view over Stuttgart. From its exposed position above the Neckar valley, you can look out over Stuttgart, the Daimler factory and towards Esslingen.
Tips:
Enjoy the summer on the steps of eternal love
Especially in the summer evenings, the steps in front of the grave chapel are one of the most beautiful places in the city. Time and again you can experience special events or live music here. Click here for more information.
Wine hike
Why not combine a visit to the grave chapel with a wine hike? The wine trail leads you through the steep vineyards of Ober- and Untertürkheim, Rotenberg and Uhlbach. Along the vineyards, Stuttgart shows itself from its most beautiful side - and thanks to numerous wineries and wine taverns, the culinary delights are not neglected either. Here you will find all the information you need about the wine trail.
Vinothek in the Wine Museum
You can also combine your visit to the grave chapel with a visit to the Vinothek in the Wine Museum. Over 20 first-class wines from various Stuttgart winegrowers and sparkling wine producers are waiting for you to taste them.
