Palace Charlottenburg and its gardens
Royal Prussia in Berlin

Charlottenburg Palace, a former residence of the Hohenzollern dynasty, looks back on an eventful past. This varied past makes Charlottenburg Palace and its widespread gardens the perfect place for a journey back in time to Prussian art and culture spanning from the Baroque era to the early 20th century. The original building constituting the Palace was built in the late 17th century as a summer residence for Brandenburg Electress and eventual Queen Sophie Charlotte - hence the name "Charlottenburg Palace".

After her husband's coronation as King Frederick I of Prussia, the Palace was expanded to become a Baroque three-wing complex, modelled after French architecture. Throughout the centuries, an important number of alterations were carried out at Charlottenburg Palace: Frederick the Great, for example, had Rococo rooms added inside the Palace, which are used today to display masterpieces of French painting. Around 1796, winter quarters in early classical style were added. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, further buildings were added to the Palace gardens, for example the New Pavilion, the Mausoleum and the Belvedere. The latter originally served as a teahouse. Ever since its reconstruction after World War II, the teahouse has been used to display a valuable collection of Berlin Porcelain.

The Palace gardens covering an area of 55 hectares were planned and created in the late 17th century, being the first Baroque gardens in northern Germany to be modelled in French style. Just like at the Palace, numerous modifications were done in the gardens as well. The Baroque gardens were turned into an English-style landscape garden in 1786.

Charlottenburg Palace and its gardens provide unique insight into the development of royal architecture in the course of the centuries. Charlottenburg Palace first opened its gates to the public in 1926. Following its very time-consuming and complex reconstruction due to severe damages in World War II, the Palace is now as popular as ever with lovers of palaces and art historians alike. Paintings by French artists such as Antoine Watteau, Nicolas Lancret, Jean Simeon Chardin and Antoine Pesne are on permanent exhibit here, making Charlottenburg Palace's collection of 18th century French paintings the largest outside of France. Additional world-famous paintings are on display at the New Pavilion located in the Palace gardens. The Palace's ceremonial rooms, the Baroque royal apartments located on the ground floor as well as the ancestor gallery and the Palace chapel are all highly popular with visitors. In the upper story, the splendid chamber of court silver and tableware awaits visitors.

In addition to being a highly frequented sightseeing spot in Berlin, Charlottenburg Palace is also in great demand as a truly special event location for cultural and social happenings.