3 6 0°  F u l l s c r e e n  P a n o r a m a s The Mannheim Palace with the newly renovated rooms
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The Ceremonial Staircase
The Mannheim Palace staircase is one of the largest in German palace architecture. It demonstrates that royal power served not only as a symbol of the sovereign's understanding of art, but also for the presentation of the royal retinue and the reception of guests. From the lower vestibule there is a dual stairwell, leading to the upper vestibule, the ceremonial forecourt of the Hall of Knights.
Photo: Peter Mc Cracken
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The Hall of Knights
The Hall of Knights is the central and largest cerimonial hall of the Palace, from here the adjoining rooms of the Beletage extend in opposite directions. The Hall derived its name from the meetings of Knights of the Hubertus Order. On the walls are numerous portraits of direct decendants of Carl Philipp from Pfalz-Neuburg (1661-1742) and it is also known as the Ancestral Hall.
Photo: Peter Mc Cracken
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The Coursaal
In the 17. century this room was the second anteroom of the so called Imperial Quarters. The swedish Royal Couple also used this room as the second anteroom while living in the Palace. It was not until the middle of the 18th century that the room became known as the "Coursaal".
Photo: Peter Mc Cracken
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The Anteroom
On a six meters long empire set from the first half of the 18th century you can see the magnificent Grand Ducal 130-piece court silver service. In the 1920s the walls of the room were covered in a red damask, that is why it's also frequently described as the Red Hall.
Photo: Peter Mc Cracken
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The Throne Hall
The most precocious exhibit in the Throne Hall is the original throne chair. Its central and raised position characterises fundamentally the ambiance of the hall. The symbolism and effect of the throne is amplified by the splendid baldachin and the flanking columns (copies true to the original in all detail).
Photo: Peter Mc Cracken
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The Grand Cabinet
From 1856 Grand duchess Luise used the Grand Cabinet as a reception salon. She adorned the walls with tapestry work of the Christ Consequence, that previously had decorated the audience room of the Swedish queen. The special showpieces of this room are the two console tables. Their extensively gilded wood carvings indicate a courtly origin.
Photo: Peter Mc Cracken
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The Trabantensaal
As the first antechamber this hall formed the prelude of the "electoral accommodation" in the 17th century. The big library table, elaborately formed with artistic inlays, was formerly in the court library of the Elector Carl Theodor. The one you see today is an elaborate copy. The original together with the entire court library were destroyed in the second World War.
Photo: Peter Mc Cracken
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The Blue Salon
In electoral times the Blue Salon was the second anteroom. The room received its name due to the blue furniture covers, curtains and wall coverings. From 1819 to 1860 the Blue Salon was a part of the Grand Duchess Stéphanie's apartment. This kind of furnishing came into fashion in Vienna at that time. Quite a number of the items are originals from that period. It is the black colour that makes this furniture so special, it tends to lend the room an air of great elegance and seriousness.
Photo: Peter Mc Cracken
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The Yellow Salon
The original walls of the Salon were covered with a "lemon" coloured damask fabric, that had specifically been ordered from Peron & Frere in Lyon. Different pieces of furniture from the time of the Grand Duchess Stéphanie are a secretary, a table, chairs, a sofa and a wool container. The furniture was manufactured from mahogany, the bronze fittings such as the palm leaves and lions paws were typicall of the Empire period.
Photo: Peter Mc Cracken
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The Music Chamber
In electoral times the room was used for conferences by the ministerial committee. The Grand Duchess Stéphanie had the room altered, up-dated in the late Empire style and made it into a music room. The Grand Duchess was very musically talented and in sociable rounds different instruments were regularly played here.
Photo: Peter Mc Cracken
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More Panoramas - During the renovations
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