Schloss Charlottenburg, Berlin

          

The first stop on our CETS trip to Central Europe is in Berlin. On one of our first days, we will be visiting Schloss Charlottenburg, or Charlottenburg Palace. This palace was constructed as the summer home for Sophie Charlotte, the wife of King Friedrich I of Prussia (“Lonely Planet,” 2014). The older part of the building, known as Altes Schloss, was constructed and decorated in the Baroque style in 1699 (“Berlin,” n.d.). The exterior of the palace is also Baroque. In 1742, a new wing of the palace was built by Frederich the Great. Known as the Neuer Flügel, this section was designed in the Rococo style by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knoblesdorff (“Lonely Planet,” 2014). Schloss Charlottenburg suffered from extensive damage during World War II, but restoration efforts began in the 1950’s (“Berlin,” n.d.). The palace now serves as a popular tourist destination, cultural site, and museum.

Schloss Charlottenburg has a lot to offer anyone who appreciates history or art. Some of the artistic highlights featured in the Charlottenburg Palace include paintings, vases, tapestries, weapons, and porcelain (“Lonely Planet,” 2014). The Altes Schloss contains the Oak Gallery, which houses Hohenzollern family portraits. This section of the palace also includes the first bathroom in a Baroque palace, the Oval Hall with a view of the gardens, and the Porcelain Chamber featuring porcelain from China and Japan (“Lonely Planet,” 2014). The Rococo style rooms found in the Neuer Flügel, are very ornate and flamboyant. (“Lonely Planet,” 2014). Schloss Charlottenburg is truly a fantastic palace with many historic buildings, architectural styles, and art to appreciate.

Other buildings that are considered part of the palace complex at Schloss Charlottenburg include the Schlossgarten, the palace’s park, the Belvedere, a building that now houses porcelain art, the Neuer Pavilion, a building that now contains paintings from the Romantic period, and the Mausoleum, which holds the tombs of various Hohenzollern royalty (“Lonely Planet,” 2014). Schloss Charlottenburg also houses the largest collection of eighteenth century French paintings outside of France (“Berlin,” n.d.). Besides being a grand palace, Schloss Charlottenburg is surrounded by an extensive and artistically rich palace complex. This is certainly a must see location for all tourists in Berlin.

References:

Berlin.de. Schloss Charlottenburg. Retrieved from http://www.berlin.de/en/museums/3109862-3104050schloss-charlottenburg.en.html.

Lonely Planet, (2014). Schloss Charlottenburg. Retrieved from             http://www.lonelyplanet.com/germany/berlin/sights/castles-palaces-mansions/schloss-charlottenburg.

Picture Reference:

http://www.german-architecture.info/017-schloss_charlottenburg-002.jpg

http://www.spsg.de/schloesser-gaerten/objekt/schloss-charlottenburg-altes-schloss/