Garden Museum

Room 14 – Friederike Sophie, owner of Fantaisie Palace

 

Elisabeth Friederike Sophie (1732-1780) was one of the most beautiful princesses of her time. As the only child of Margrave Friedrich von Brandenburg-Bayreuth and Margravine Wilhelmine she was brought up strictly and groomed for a suitable marriage. In 1748 she became the wife of Duke Carl II Eugen von Württemberg. Although the marriage augured well, the young duchess was soon complaining of her husband's unfaithfulness. In 1756 she visited her mother and remained at the Bayreuth court, never returning to live with her husband again.

After the death of her father (1763) she left the New Palace at Bayreuth. During the winter she lived in the Old Palace and in the summer she moved into Fantaisie Palace, which she inherited. Here she laid out a Rococo garden, parts of which – the steps, Neptune Fountain, pavilion, fragments of the cascade and two unusual sandstone seats – have remained to the present day.