Designed in the neo-Gothic style.
After Katharina's death, King Wilhelm I had the Württemberg ancestral castle torn down and built a sepulchral chapel in its place, dedicated to his beloved wife. Its design was decided by a contest. Wilhelm initially preferred a neo-Gothic style and requested corresponding design plans from prominent architects such as Leo von Klenze and Joseph Türmer. Court architect, Giovanni Battista Salucci, submitted his own unsolicited classical design and was awarded the job.
Since 2017, the priest's house has served as the visitors center.
Two buildings are situated below the sepulchral chapel and were built at the same time, the so-called priest's house and psalmists' house. They were built by the same architect responsible for the sepulchral chapel, Giovanni Salucci. The priest's house was intended for a member of the clergy, with two liturgical singers living next door in the psalmists' house. They were engaged by King Wilhelm I to pray and sing for the departed queen in the sepulchral chapel daily. The buildings are simple, classical structures. Unlike the sepulchral chapel, they are not decorated with lavish architectural features and inscriptions.
There are several princely structures in the immediate vicinity of the sepulchral chapel. Since the early 14th century, the counts, dukes, and kings of Württemberg built their residential and pleasure palaces in and around Stuttgart. Thus, this valley basin is home to both the Old Palace and the New Palace. Further out, Solitude Palace, which is linked to the Ludwigsburg Residential Palace, Hohenheim Palace, the country residence, as well as the small Weil Palace near Esslingen, Rosenstein Palace and Wilhelm's Palace.
Visitors to Württemberg Hill.
The sepulchral chapel on the 411-meter high Württemberg Hill is one of Stuttgart's most popular destinations. Situated above the Neckar Valley, it offers spectacular views of this capital city. It also has great visibility, with direct lines of sight to Rosenstein Palace and Wilhelm's Palace. The sepulchral chapel's idyllic location amidst sun-soaked vineyards adds to this gem's charm.
