Wilhelmspalais (Wilhelm's Palace), Stuttgart

Wilhelm's Palace (Wilhelmspalais) is a significant historical building on Konrad Adenauer Street in Stuttgart. Constructed between 1834 and 1840, the palace was designed by the Italian-born architect Giovanni Battista Salucci in the classicist architectural style for King Wilhelm I of Württemberg. Originally intended as a residence for his daughters, the palace later became the home of his grandson, King Wilhelm II, the last king of Württemberg, from 1887 until his abdication in 1918.

Throughout its history, the Wilhelm's Palace has undergone several transformations. After the monarchy, it was repurposed for various uses, including a stint as the city administration headquarters, and later, under the Nazi regime, it housed the German Foreign Institute (DAI). The palace was significantly damaged during World War II air raids in 1944, with only the facades remaining intact.

Between 1961 and 1965, the building was reconstructed in a modern style by architect Wilhelm Tiedje. It then served as the central library of Stuttgart until 2011 and hosted a free exhibition on Eduard Mörike from 1965 to 1991. Following the relocation of the city library to the Mailänder Square in the European Quarter (Europaviertel) in 2011, plans were made to repurpose the Wilhelmspalais once again.

A significant renovation led by the architectural firm Lederer+Ragnarsdóttir+Oei and design studio Jangled Nerves commenced in early 2014. This renovation aimed to transform the palace into the StadtPalais – Museum für Stuttgart, a city museum dedicated to the history of Stuttgart. The museum opened on April 14, 2018, after renovations costing approximately 40.6 million euros.

Today, the Wilhelm's Palace stands as a cultural landmark, housing the StadtPalais – Museum für Stuttgart. It represents a blend of historical architecture with modern functionalities, serving as a vital part of the cultural landscape of Stuttgart. On the south side, a bronze monument to Wilhelm II by Hermann-Christian Zimmerle marks the historical significance of the building and its last royal residence.