Friedenstein Palace

Friedenstein Palace
Schloss Friedenstein
View from the courtyard towards the north wing
Friedenstein Palace Show map of Thuringia Friedenstein Palace Show map of Germany
General information
Type	Palace
Architectural style	Early Baroque
Town or city	Gotha
Country	Germany
Coordinates	50°56′45″N 10°42′16″E / 50.945833°N 10.704444°E / 50.945833; 10.704444
Construction started	1643
Completed	1656 (initial work)
Client	Herzog Ernst I von Sachsen-Gotha (Ernest I of Saxe-Gotha)
Owner	Stiftung Thüringer Schlösser und Gärten [de]
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Casper Vogell [de]
Structural engineer	Andreas Rudolph [de]

Friedenstein Palace (German: Schloss Friedenstein) is an early Baroque palace built in the mid-17th century by Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha at Gotha, Thuringia, Germany. In Germany, Friedenstein was one of the largest palaces of its time and one of the first Baroque palaces ever built. Friedenstein served as the main seat of the Dukes of Saxe-Gotha and later as one of the residences of the Dukes of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, closely linked with the royal family of Great Britain through the marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The final two ruling Dukes were both princes of the United Kingdom.

The palace complex today houses several museums. It is also notable for hosting the Ekhof-Theater [de], one of the oldest theatres in operation in Germany, still featuring the original Baroque machinery for changing the scenery.