For the Midsummer Night’s Weekend on the grounds of Benrath Palace 10.000 candles will be burning while thousands of music lovers will be relaxing and enjoying the strains of Rossini, Ravel and Tchaikovsky and the romantic atmosphere of the illuminated park, as well as the dancing waters of the fountains and concluding synchronized fireworks presentation.

A summer residence in the French style was the architectural intention from its inception: a ‘maison de plaisance’ comissioned by Prince Elector Karl Theodor; a masterpiece by his master builder, Nicolas de Pigagé. The architect arranged the 5-part palace complex around a man-made pond which, in contrast to the classic ‘cour d’honneur’ allowed for a direct view of the palace and its full glory, yet can only be approached, in anticipation, via a small detour from the side. By means of the protruding arrangement of the palace façade, Pigagé cleverly masked the relatively small-scale intermingling of the interior spaces.

The approximately 80 rooms in the palace are connected through two inner courtyards and seven staircases. The foregoing of the usual complicated flights of stairs complied with the wishes of the Elector - commodité, bienséance, convenance – and under-scores the private character of the “domicile". The royal living quarters were located on the ground floor instead of the first floor, which allowed Karl Theodor direct access to his terrace, private gardens and park. Speaking of the park: it is 612,000 square meters with numerous watercourses - a real midsummer night’s dream.