It was designed by Giovanni Salucci for King William I of Württemberg to house the remains his second wife, Catherine Pavlovna of Russia.

Construction elapsed over four years, from 1820 to 1824, while work on its decor lasted another four years. The remains of William I, Catherine, and their daughter Maria Friederike Charlotte, are housed in the mausoleum.

The Mausoleum was used as a Russian Orthodox church from 1825 to 1899. A Russian Orthodox service continues to be served every year at Pentecost.

On 25 June 1864, William I died in Rosenstein Palace, but left instructions to be interred with Catherine in the Mausoleum. Per his final testament, William’s body was carried out of Stuttgart after sunset and arrived at the Mausoleum just before morning on 30 June, when was laid to rest with Catherine.

Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev, a Russian poet who worked in Germany and traveled to Stuttgart about in 1828, wrote the poem Rotenberg that was published in 1837.