The Stadtschloss (Berlin City Palace)

First building work took place from 1443 – 1451 under the elector Frederick II. In 1538 it was restructured by the master builders Konrad Krebs and Kaspar Theiss. Further changes were made in the 17th century by Johann Arnold Neting and Johann Georg Memhard. A unified palace complex was achieved by expansions by Andreas Schlueter (1698 – 1706) and Johann Friedrich Eosander (1706 – 1713).

During the 18th and 19th century, a number of structural changes took place under George Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff, Johann August Nahl, Karl von Gontard, Frederick Wilhelm von Erdmannsdorf, Carl Gotthard Langhans, Frederick August Stueler and Albert Dietrich Schadow, partly using the plans of Schinkel.

In 1945 the ‘Stadtschloss’ was damaged in air raids. In the years 1950 – 51 the government of the German Democratic Republic arranged for this palace to be demolished.

The Palace Schloss Charlottenburg

This palace was originally built according to designs of Arnold Neting between 1695-1699 for Sophie Charlotte, wife of the elector. Following the coronation in Prussia of her husband, the elector Frederick III as king Frederick I, Johann Frederick Eosander was commissioned to conduct extensive restructuring. After Sophie Charlotte’s death, the palace was named ‘Charlottenburg’ (Charlotte’s castle) in her honour.

Various changes were carried out under their successors. Frederick the Great for example added the new wing following designs of George Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff. The last significant changes were conducted under Frederick Wilhelm II, who had commissioned Carl Gotthard Langhans to expand the western part of the orangery by adding the palace theatre.

Further information:
History of the palace (in German)

The New Pavilion

This square summer house was erected under Frederick Wilhelm II in 1824, in the palace gardens of the palace of Charlottenburg. It is situated directly by the Spree river, and was built according to plans of Karl Frederick Schinkel. The inspiration for this was the Neapolitan Villa Reale Chiatamone, in which he had stayed during a trip to Italy in 1822.

Although mostly destroyed during the war, since 1970 the renovated villa has contained a museum exhibiting works from the time of Schinkel.

Jagdschloss Grunewald / The Hunting Lodge Grunewald

Caspar Theiss was charged with the construction of this palace in 1542 by the elector Joachim II of Brandenburg. His successor, the elector Johann George, had several changes made under the supervision of the count Rochus of Lynar, which were picked up upon again in 1699 with the baroque reconstruction following the designs of Martin Gruenberg. These works were completed under king Frederick I in 1707. In 1770 Frederick II commissioned the building of an Inn and a shed for the storage of hunting utensils.

Although only rarely used in the 18th century, the hunting lodge regained significance in 1828, when prince Carl of Prussia introduced the tradition of the ‘Red Hunt’.

Further information:
History of the lodge (in German)

Schloss Glienicke / The Glienicke Palace

The former summer residence of prince Carl of Prussia (1801 – 1883) was included in the UNESCO world heritage list as part of the Potsdam harmonious landscape of palaces and gardens or ‘Kulturlandschaft’ in 1990. The palace and gardens were created by Peter Joseph Lenne between 1816 and 1862. The buildings were created from 1825 onwards following plans of Karl Friedrich Schinkel, in the style of an Italian villa.

Further information:
History of the palace (in German)

Pfaueninsel (Island of peacocks)

This island of approximately 75 hectares is situated between Wannsee and Kladow. With its expansive lawns, its wide variety of bird population and its non-European tree cultures, this is one of the most beautiful nature reserves in Berlin.

Since the end of the 18th century, the Hohenzollern rulers had imaginative buildings erected on the island. Today these form part of the unique world heritage of Berlin-Potsdam. These include the palace ruins built by Johann Gottlieb Brendel in 1794 - 1799 as well as the Manor house and the Swiss cottage built by Karl Frederick Schinkel.

Further information:
History of the Pfaueninsel (in German)

Schloss Sanssouci / The Palace of Sanssouci

This was built by George Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff on the orders of Frederick the Great, who was personally significantly involved by contributing his own drawings and ideas to the designs.

Initially the works were conducted by Frederick Wilhelm Dietrichs, and from 1745 onwards, by Johann Boumann the elder.

Following his wish, Frederick the Great has his final resting place on the terrace of this palace, next to the graves of his dogs.

Further information:
History of Sanssouci (in German)

The Roman Baths

Built by Ludwig Persius in 1829 using designs of Karl Frederick Schinkel, on the orders of Frederick Wilhelm IV, who also contributed drawings to the plans, inspired by his journey through Italy.

Originally planned as a lodge for the court gardener as well as containing rooms for guests, gardeners and servants, the Roman baths were extended by various additions until 1836.

Neue Kammern / New Chambers

Built as an orangery by George Wenzeslaus von Knobelsorff on the orders of Frederick the great in 1747. From 1771 - 75 it was changed into accommodation for guests by George Christian Unger, a pupil of Karl von Gontard.

Following the wishes of Frederick Wilhelm the northern rear façade was added by Ludwig Persius in 1842 - 43.

Orangery Sanssouci

Built in 1851-60 using the designs of Ludwig Persius and Frederick August Stueler and also incorporating drafts by king Frederick Wilhelm IV. The building workswere carried out by Hesse.

The middle part of the three-winged complex contains the Raffael gallery, which contains a collection of copies and paintings by Raffael.

Schloss Babelsberg / The Palace of Babelsberg

The first plans for the summer residence of the later emperor Wilhelm I took shape in 1833 through Karl Frederick Schinkel.

This palace was built in two phases, in the years1834 – 40 it was built in the style of English country seats by Ludwig Persius. Following his death, Johann Heinrich Strack took over the extension works from 1844 – 49.

Further information:
History of the palace (in German)

Schloss Charlottenhof / The Palace of Charlottenhof

In 1825 a manor house was purchased for the crown prince Frederick Wilhelm (IV). This had been built by Johann Gottfried Buering between 1756 and 1758. In 1826, and in close co-operation with the prince, plans were developed by Karl Frederick Schinkel, to make various changes. Until the 1840s the building works were conducted by Ludwig Persius, while the gardens were the responsibility of Peter Joseph Lenne.

Charlottenhof was used as a summer residence by the crown prince Frederick Wilhelm and his wife, the Bavarian princess Elisabeth.

Further information:
History of the palace (in German)

Schloss Cecilienhof / The Palace of Cecilienhof

Built 1913-17 by the architect Paul Schultze-Naumburg on the orders of the emperor Wilhelm II, as a residence for the crown prince Wilhelm, and it is his wife Cecilie that the palace, built in the English cottage-style is named after.

Further information:
History of the palace (in German)

Belvedere KLAUSBERG

Commissioned by Frederick the Great and built in the style of the Marcellum in Rome, as depicted in Francesco Bianchini’s work “Del Palazzo di Cesari” (Verona, 1738). This palace was erected by George Christian Unger in 1770-72.

Belvedere PFINGSTBERG

Already in 1793 king Frederick Wilhelm II planned to construct a neo-gothic Belvedere in this location, using the plans of George Frederick Boumann the younger. This idea was picked up by his grandson Frederick Wilhelm IV in the 1840s.

The first drawings for this were made by Ludwig Persius in 1844, which were then developed further by Frederick August Stueler and Ludwig Ferdinand Hesse, also incorporating suggestions of king Frederick Wilhelm IV.

The surrounding walls were erected 1849-52 and after a lengthy break in the works, in 1860-63 the main hall was completed.

Marmorpalais / The Marble Palace

In 1783 the crown prince Frederick Wilhelm (II) purchased a small country seat with a vineyard at the so-called holy lake. After he began in government, in 1787 the works on a new palace with a park commenced, and this was to become the favourite creation of the king. The original architect was Karl von Gontard, and from 1789 onwards he was joined by Carl Gottfried Langhans. The building works were conducted by Andreas Ludwig Krueger.

The ‘Marmorpalais’ became the favourite summer residence of king Frederick Wilhelm II. Later generations used it as their first residence after getting married, such as the later emperor Wilhelm II and his son the crown prince Wilhelm, and their eldest children were born there.

Further information:
History of the palace (in German)

Schloss Rheinsberg / The Rheinsberg Palace

In 1734 king Frederick Wilhelm I purchased the old Rheinsberg castle grounds together with his son, the later king Frederick II. Gottfried Kemmeter was askedto conduct the restructuring works, and was succeeded by George Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff in 1737, to create a northern wing, a second tower and the construction of a colonnade.

In 1744 prince Heinrich of Prussia was given Rheinsberg as a present from his brother, and for the next five decades this was his favourite residence. From 1763 onwards, wide ranging restructuring works took place under the supervision of Carl Gotthard Langhans, particularly on the interiors of the rooms.

Further information:
History of the palace (in German)

Schloss Koenigs Wusterhausen

This was given to the later ‘soldier king’ as a gift by his parents, when he was merely ten years of age. It started out as a renaissance building from the 16th century, and following restructuring works, particularly of the interior, this became his favourite place of residence until 1740. While the soldier king used it a base for hunting, Schloss Koenigs Wusterhausen became far more renowned as the meeting place of the famous so-called ‘tobacco collegiate’, a group of advisers who regularly met with the king to discuss matters of state while smoking their pipes.

Further information:
History of the Schloss (in German)

Schloss Paretz / The Palace of Paretz

In 1797 the crown prince Friedrich Wilhelm (III) purchased the Manor house Paretz. Within just a few months the architect David Gilly managed to turn Paretz into a simple country seat, following the wishes of the crown prince. Paretz became a much loved summer residence for the royal family. They felt like landed gentry, and queen Luise had herself addressed as ‘Lady Paretz’and celebrating thanksgiving with the village population was their high point of the season. This ended with the early death of the queen in 1810.

After 1948 Paretz was all but destroyed by restructuring works. In 1999 restoration works commenced, which have led to the fact that since summer 2001 the palace is once more resplendent in its former glory and open to the public.

Further information:
The history of the palace (in German)

Schloss Oranienburg / The Palace of Oranienburg

In 1652 the elector Friedrich Wilhelm commissioned Johann Gregor Memhardt to build a representative palace for his Dutch wife Louise Henriette of Orange-Nassau, which is also how the palace got its name.

His successor, the elector Friedrich III/ king Friedrich I of Prussia had extensive changes made, employing famous architects, such as Johann Arnold Nehring, Martin Gruenberg and Johann Friedrich Eosander von Goethe.

Further information:
History of the palace (in German)