Charlottenburg Palace
Charlottenburg Palace was built in the late 1600s as a vacation home for Sophie Charlotte, wife of Friedrich III an Elector of Brandenburg. The structure of the building has a rich baroque style. It was formally named Lietzenburg. When 36 year old Sophie Charlotte died unexpectedly in 1705, from pneumonia. Her husband renamed Lietzenburg to Charlottenburg in her honour.
Over the years generations of royals whom inherited the castle expanded and renovated it to their tastes and styles. These renovations represent the eras they lived, giving the beautiful palace unique styles throughout all the rooms.
Missing from the original structure is the Amber Room which Frederick William gave to Peter the Great: Tsar of Russia in 1716 as a symbolic seal of Prussia’s alliance with Russia. The room had a baroque style that shone beautifully with golden tones of amber. Precious stones, mirrors and golden leaf panels embellished its walls. Some labelled this room the eighth wonder of the world. Sadly, during the end of the second world war it was dismantled and hidden for safe keeping never found again.
Significant restorations were done to the palace after World War ll greatly damaged it.
Today Charlottenburg Palace is the largest castle in Berlin and the only remaining royal residence in the city that dates back to the Holenzollern family. Portraits of the Holenzollern family are exhibited on an oak panel wall in the Oak Gallery.
An equestrian statue of Friedrich Wilahelm l was saved during the War by hiding it in storage at the bottom of lake Tegeler. This magnificent statue now stands centered of the courtyard at the front of the palace. At the bottom of the statue are four chained warriors symbolizing the four temperaments describing personalities: sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic and melancholic.
This exquisite palace, with its beautiful formal gardens and surrounding woods, is a renowned tourist attraction creating a lovely oasis in the city. For an admission fee visitors may enter and browse through sections of the Palace. There’s plenty of beautiful rooms to view such as the famous porcelain cabinet room located in the original section. This alluring room is adorned with many fascinating, and exquisite porcelain ornaments that show off their authentic influence from the Orient. The crown jewels, rare royal silver from the Hohenzollern family collection, the famous snuffboxes from Frederick the Great and porcelain dinnerware full of rich colours and form are exceptionally displayed.
The oldest section of the palace features a baroque style. Enjoy gazing upon the rooms of Queen Sophie Charlotte and Frederick l.
The new wing located on the east side of the Palace is designed in a rococo fashion. Here you will find the luxurious chambers of Frederick the Great as well as Friedrich Wilhelm II’s more modest winter lodgings. These rooms have been restored and displayed for everyone to enjoy with admirable French furnishings and artwork that belonged to the monarch.
The west side of the palace accommodates two rococo style grandiose ballrooms. The White Hall with its renowned acoustics was once used as a royal dining room and the Golden Gallery, a 42 metre long opulent ballroom, lavishly decorated with mirrors, marble and gilded ornaments. This royal ballroom displays a grand show of French paintings from Frederick’s private collection from the turn of the century as well as additions from other royals with marble sculptures from the area of the nineteenth century.
This wing also contains the impressive orangery built with a baroque style, once used to store rare citrus trees through the winter. In the summer around 500 orange, lemon and sour orange trees adorn the premises creating refreshing fragrants and scenic atmosphere for royal festivities. A large vestibule and dome tower; crowned by a gilded statue weather vane; representing fortune and luck were added later. Today these illuminated grandiose ballrooms are frequently used for concerts, weddings, banquets or art events. The palace former theatre; now a museum, is an extension to this wing leading out to the famous formal gardens. When strolling along these spectacular grounds you will come across structures such as the 1810 neoclassical Mausoleum of Queen Louise, the New Pavilion; this classical style pavilion displays furniture, sculptures and artwork conjuring up the style and era of the 1800’s, front of it are two pillars topped with statues that symbolize victory as well as the Belvedere. This structure’s exterior is that of a tiny castle. It was built in the late 18th century, originally as a teahouse for the royals. Today the belvedere houses famous collections of royal Porcelain.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: You can visit the grounds and gardens for free. Some interior portions are subject to an admission fee.Charlottenburg Palace Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Address: Spandauer Damm 10-22, 14059 Berlin, Germany
Phone: 030 320910
Official Website: Charlottenburg Palace
Charlottenburg Palace Reviews
Rated out of 5
An absolutely beautiful palace and a place not to be missed while in Berlin. We were there on a Friday just after opening at 10am and it was great to walk through and take photographs and soak up the aesthetics of this beautiful palace without the grounds. The excesses and wealth that went into a palace like this is quite remarkable. The grounds are just as beautiful and its free to walk about them without having to enter the palace, but you will regret not going inside. €12 entry fee for adults is well worth it or if you had more time than us, you could buy a pass for €19 which includes the new wing. Highly recommended.
Samantha Platt - a month ago
Thought this was worth the price of admission. With the standard ticket you also get the entrance to the garden and the other wing in the back of the palace. It took me a decent time to get around and see everything and I felt like I could have spent more time there but was getting hungry. Overall worth a visit if you are in Berlin! I went on a weekday first thing in the morning and it wasn’t terribly crowded, although there was a line of people waiting for it to open.
Katherine Haywood - 2 months ago
We didn't actually visit the Palace we went for the Christmas Market at Charlottenburg Palace. The Christmas Market has a large selection of stalls. With everything from handmade goods to the amazing food and drink stands.
We arrive while it was still daylight but as the sun went down the palace turn in to a magical Christmas Market with the trees lighting up and the projection on to the palace. With live music to give the true Christmas feel.
Mark Rushton - 4 weeks ago
What an incredible structure and grounds. Even with the rocks in place of the original flower garden it's still beautiful and the reconstruction after WW2 is fantastic. It's certainly with your time if you're in the area and one to divert and hr or even more out of your way to see first hand as the photos simply do not do it justice.
Dylan King - 2 months ago
Went to the lovely Christmas market here. The inside courtyard has crafters sell goods. The rest is typical Market merchandise. Go early as it gets very crowded in the evening. Worth a visit.
Evelyn Kansy - 4 weeks ago
Directions
How to get to Charlottenburg Palace by U-Bahn, S-Bahn
Nearest U-Bahn, S-Bahn Line(s): U7, S41, S42, S46
Nearest U-Bahn, S-Bahn Station(s): Berlin Westend, Richard-Wagner-Platz
From Westend Station head east on Spandauer Damm.
From Richard-Wagner-Platz head northwest on Otto-Suhr-Allee the slight left onto Sammlung Scarf-Gerstenberg.
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Photo Gallery
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Photo Credit: xiquinhosilva - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: xiquinhosilva - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: xiquinhosilva - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: xiquinhosilva - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: xiquinhosilva - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: xiquinhosilva - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: xiquinhosilva - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: xiquinhosilva - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: xiquinhosilva - cc license via Flickr
