Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart

So this should be my first 'official' post of the New Year for 2011.  Last weekend we were blessed with some very unseasonable warm weather.  It was a  "balmy" 50 degrees that melted the snow.  A drastic change from the temperatures in the teens.  The sun was shining & we wanted to explore.  About 10 minutes from us is Schloss Solitude, which was exactly that a small country castle meant for refuge & solitude.  It was built in the 1700's & only used for a few years for it's actual purpose but very pretty.  It was a fun way to spend the afternoon & neat to see something local.

Front of the Schloss

Looking down the hill &  into Ludwigsburg in the distance where the main Schloss was located

Courtyard

During the tour we were told that many chandeliers were made in Venice Italy at the Schloss

Ceiling Art in the main ballroom/entertaining room

The floors in this room, The Marble Room, were so elaborate. We weren't to walk on them.  they were made with several different types of wood with ebony & ivory.  

Small room with a bed.  The sleeping quarters were actually in other buildings.  This bed was not for sleeping but for napping, which was done often in that period.  Also we learned that they didn't bathe back then either.  They did not want to be exposed to the bacteria in the water.  So they would use 1/2 liter of perfume, per person, per day.  And because it was the time of wigs & make up they would shave the make up off their faces with a wooden type razor each evening.