Charlottenburg Palace (Schloss Charlottenburg) is a huge and grand palace that can be found in Germany’s capital.
Its picturesque and intricate yellow facade are on the cover of many a postcard, and the palace — along with its extensive garden — is one of the favorite sights in Berlin.
About The Charlottenburg Palace And Its History
Charlottenburg Palace was built in the late 1690s as a summer residence for Sophie Charlotte, who was the wife of Elector Friedrich III. The architects on the initial project were Johann Arnold Nering and Martin Grünberg but the construction continued throughout the 18th century with new wings and decorations. With such continuous construction and additions, the palace is a fine blend of architectural styles, from Baroque to Rococo.
Like so many other structures in the German capital city, Charlottenburg was heavily damaged during the tumultuous years of the Second World War. In 1943, the palace took a direct bomb hit, resulting in a fire that consumed the entire structure. Reconstruction work began in the 1950s and after many years of careful rebuilding, the palace has been restored to its former wonder.
The Charlottenburg Palace was once home to what has been described as the eighth wonder of the world. The famous Amber Room was housed within the walls of Charlottenburg Palace before it was given as a gift to the tsar of Russia, Peter the Great.
Charlottenburg Palace Highlights And Features
Palace Park
Charlottenburg Palace is renowned for its wonderful baroque garden. This garden has been a bit of a shape-shifter over the years! It began as a French Baroque garden. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the garden was converted into a less formal English landscape one, only to have part of it be reconstructed (in the 1950s) as its original French incarnation.
There are many highlights in this lovely place. Be sure not to miss the large carp pond, the Roman temple-like Mausoleum (containing several sarcophagi of German royalty) and the Belvedere tea house.
Palace Interior
This gem of a palace includes some true treasures of art and architecture. The Porcelain Room contains fine Chinese and Japanese wares made of this precious substance. The Great Oak Gallery features intricate carvings. The Golden Gallery shows off some bling with golden decorations along soft pastel walls.
Charlottenburg Palace Location And Opening Hours
Charlottenburg Palace is located in the capital city of Berlin, in the district of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf. The street address is Spandauer Damm 10-22 (use your GPS device for step by step directions).
Any of the major highways outside of Berlin (the autobahn A10, A100 and A12 among others) will lead you to this lovely Baroque palace. Follow the exits to Berlin Center (Berlin Zentrum) and Spandauer Damm.
Those who prefer to use public transportation will be able to reach the palace with ease. By bus, you can hop aboard number 309 and get off at Sophie-Charlotte-Platz. U-Bahn users can get on line number 2 (U2) and alight at the same stop. From there, it is a short walk to the palace.
If you’re taking the S-Bahn you can arrive a bit closer at the West End stop and walk.
Charlottenburg Palace Opening Hours
The opening hours for Charlottenburg Palace are seasonal. From April to October, both the old and new wings are open every day except for Mondays from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. In the winter months, they are open every day except Tuesdays, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Regardless of the season, final entry is a half an hour before closing.
The garden is always open, from 6:00 a.m. until dusk.
