Weikersheim, Romantic Road

Weikersheim is a small town of 7,358 residents, but it is the Renaissance Palace and its Versailles-style gardens that it is known for.

Weikersheim Palace was once the medieval seat of the princely House of Hohenlohe. Originally built in the 12th century, by the late 16th century, it was rebuilt into a Renaissance Palace, except for the tall tower, which was left as a symbol of its history. One of the most remarkable rooms is the ornate Mirror Cabinet. The walls of the room are covered with deep red wallpaper and decorated with gold trimmings, small mirrors, and brackets to display a collection of porcelain, silver, and precious-stone figurines, and faience (tin-glazed pottery) from Ansbach, Germany.

The even more significant room is the 17th-century Knight’s Hall. At 131ft (40m) in length, the entire wooden ceiling was attached to the roof structure without the need for supports. Within each wooden frame is a painting of a hunting scene. The walls are decorated with stucco sculptures, large animal figures and grand master paintings. Entry is via a portal, and directly opposite the room is the striking 30ft (9m) fireplace embellished with reliefs and figurines, and the 15ft (4.5m) chandelier. With only minor additions in the 18th century, most of the hall is in its original state.

The outside gardens are a feast of symmetry and regularity. Designed as a continuation of the castle, the garden path is bordered by colourful flowers, sandstone sculptures of ancient gods and a large pool at the end. Box hedges surround floral beds, a central fountain has a statue of Hercules holding a dragon with its head tilted up spitting jets of water from its mouth, and the orangery with its two wings, large arched windows and large stone figures on the roof is a greenhouse for palm trees, citrus plants and other exotic plants. What is also unique to the palace garden is the collection of 14 18th-century stone dwarves decorating its balustrade. Once a decorative feature in palace gardens, most have not been preserved or maintained, making this collection very rare.