Duke Eberhard Ludwig laid the cornerstone for a small hunting lodge above the Tälesbach on 7 May 1704, he had no idea that he was creating the core of the largest Baroque castle in Germany and of a city which would at one time play an important role in the politics, art, business, trade and industry of the state.
In 1718, the duke made Ludwigsburg a city and, at the same time, a residence. Under the rule of Duke Carl Eugen (1744 - 1793), Ludwigsburg experienced its heyday. Elegant court festivals were held in the castle and the espousal celebration of the duke was one of the most glorious festivals in the history of the courts of that time with a unique firework display.
At first Duke Eberhard Ludwig only thought of having the hunting lodge, which had burnt down, reconstructed when building the residence castle, but when he died thirty years later, above the Neckar valley one of the most impressive German Baroque castles had come into being with extensive gardens and a new capital and residence city. The "Swabian Versailles" consists of a magnificent castle with eighteen buildings arranged around three courtyards and four hundred and fifty two rooms.