Poppelsdorf Palace

The design of a new structure to replace the old ruined castle of Poppelsdorf commenced in 1715 at the request of the owner, Joseph Clemens, Archbishop-Elector of Cologne, who engaged the French architect Robert de Cotte.

Clemens wanted a maison de plaisance that would be near his remodeled Bonn Palace 800 metres (1⁄2 mile) to the north.

It consisted of four two-storey wings surrounding a circular inner court with an arcaded gallery on its circumference.

Clemens wrote to de Cotte: "I realized that it would be quite useless to erect so large a building on that site, which is but a cannon shot from town ... For the most part my retinue returns to the city at night, and I keep near me only those who are absolutely necessary to serve me.

"[3] The extant plan shows a square entrance vestibule with 16 columns: four free-standing, and the remainder engaged with the walls.

Garden facade of the Poppelsdorf Palace
Elevation from de Cotte's first project, May 1715
Plan of the ground floor from de Cotte's second project, 16 November 1716
In 1946, showing war damage