Lustschloss

In Renaissance and Early Modern German architecture, a Lustschloss (French: maison de plaisance, both meaning "pleasure palace") is a country house, château, or palace which served the private pleasure of its owner, and was seasonally inhabited as a respite from court ceremonies and state duties.

There is no common term for such houses in English, and the phenomenon developed especially in the smaller states of Germany, where the ruler was firmly based in one or two main palaces, as opposed to the much larger number available to the monarchies of England, France, and Spain (after Henry VIII's prolific building, Elizabeth I of England had some 40 palaces, most now demolished).

In the course of the years, many aristocratic family seats grew into big estates; at the same time, the court ceremonial changed.

The name Lustschloss was often used interchangeably with the word Schloss, which is the general term for a palace, stately home or manor house.

An example of this is Sanssouci, which was originally established as a summer house, but over a period of time became the main residence of Frederick the Great of Prussia.