Schwetzingen, castle and castle gardens

The complete title of the UNESCO application is “Schwetzingen, a Prince Elector's Summer Residence – garden design and Freemasonic allusions”. The garden was designed in the second half of the 18th Century in two parts: a French baroque garden and an English landscape garden. A high number of the original structures and elements are preserved. Beside the main palace, there are several outbuildings, a theatre in rococo style, an orangery, a mosque (photo), small temples, fountains and sculptures. The garden is very nice indeed and is worth a visit. I was there on a sunny day in August 2009 and spent the whole afternoon walking through the garden. However, there are already many similar sites on the WH list. Thus, I think it is unlikely that it will be inscribed in 2012.

Schwetzingen is very close to the WHS Speyer cathedral (20 km), Abbey Lorsch (35 km) and Maulbronn monastery (60 km).