On the west side of the Old Garden, the castle freedom of the Grand Ducal Palace, lies the Old Palace, also known as the Hereditary Prince's Palace or the Widow's Palace. The building, constructed in half-timbered style, between the State Chancellery and the Theater, has many names - the reasons for which can be gleaned from its history.
Around 1705, the palace was built for Hereditary Prince Karl Leopold. Hereditary Prince Franz also lived there until assuming the government responsibilities.
In 1799, the Hereditary Prince's Palace was modernized. Friedrich Franz had Johann Georg Barca commissioned for the task. He was to renovate everything for Hereditary Prince Friedrich Ludwig and his wife Helena Pavlovna, and extend it by four axes in a northern direction.
About 40 years later, there was another expansion, this time for Grand Duke Paul Friedrich, who wanted to establish his transitional residence there in 1837. Georg Adolph Demmler carried out this renovation. After the sudden death of the Grand Duke in 1842, his widow Grand Duchess Alexandrine lived here until her death in 1892.
About the style
The two-story palace is constructed in half-timbered style. It has a hipped roof with large three-axis mansard gables and dormer windows. The representative two-winged structure has been preserved to this day. The building is a listed monument and is now the seat of the State Parliament administration.
