A guide to the magnificent summer residence in Schwetzingen, originally a 14th century moated castle, which was enlarged in the 18th century under Prince Elector Carl Theodor and converted into a Rokoko jewel. The palace at the heart of the resplendent summer residence of Prince Elector Carl Theodor was originally built as a fourteenth-century moated castle. In the time up until the beginning of the eighteenth century, it was repeatedly rearranged, destroyed and rebuilt. It was then, during the rule of Carl Theodor, that the palace and its gardens were systematically extended. The Prince Elector not only had his own quarters sumptuously appointed, but initiated numerous major construction projects too. He had the northern quarter-circle pavilion added to the palace, where the famous court theatre was installed as well. The "bathhouse", a small palatial retreat tucked in a corner of the gardens, is a particular gem, with its original fittings and furnishings.The last extension to the central part of the palace building was made in 1780. The palace, along with all the Palatinate territories to the east of the River Rhine, was ceded to the Margraves - later the Grand Dukes - of Baden in 1803, and these had the final modifications carried out in Empire style. In the more than two hundred years that have elapsed since then, the palace has never again been used as a ruler's residence. Visitors to Schwetzingen Palace today are treated to an excellent insight into the princely world of a summer residence from the rococo and early neo-classical period. Die glanzvolle Schwetzinger Sommerresidenz geht auf eine im 14. Jahrhundert erbaute Wasserburg zurück. Die planmäßige Erweiterung des Schlosses und seines Gartens erfolgte im 18. Jahrhundert in der Regierungszeit des Kurfürsten Carl Theodor, der nicht nur seine Appartements prunkvoll ausstatten ließ, sondern auch den nördlichen Zirkelbau des Schlosses anfügte, wo auch das berühmte Hoftheater seinen Platz fand. Das im Garten errichtete Lustschlösschen, das Badhaus, ist eine besondere Kostbarkeit mit erhaltener Ausstattung. 1780 wurde das Corps de Logis zum letzten Mal erweitert. Das Schloss fiel1803 an die Markgrafen von Baden, die letzte Veränderungen im Stil des Empire durchführen ließen. Heute bietet Schloss Schwetzingen einen Einblick in die höfische Welt einer Sommerresidenz des Rokoko. Die besondere kulturgeschichtliche Bedeutung des Ensembles aus Schloss, Garten und Stadt macht Schwetzingen zu einem aussichtsreichen Kandidaten für die Aufnahme in die Welterbeliste der UNESCO.