HISTORY
Sophie Charlotte of Hanover was the younger sister of George Louis of Hanover, who succeeded to the British throne as George I. In 1684, she married Friedrich III, the Elector of Brandenburg and the then Duke of Prussia. Friedrich gave Sophie Charlotte a large estate and the village of Lietze/Lützow, at that time still outside Berlin, and this was the site of her summer palace.
Palace was built in the late 1690s as a summer residence. Completed in 1699, it was initially known as Lietzenburg Palace. 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.
Sophie Charlotte, a great lover of the arts, invited poets, philosophers, musicians and artists to join her at her “court of the muses”. Even her husband King Friedrich I could only visit if she personally invited him. After her death, Friedrich named the palace and the surrounding area Charlottenburg in her honour.
Sophie Charlotte was not the only Prussian queen to leave her mark on Charlottenburg – so did Queen Louise, who was much revered by the general populace. She died in 1810, and is buried in the mausoleum with her husband, Friedrich Wilhelm III, and her son. In the course of the nineteenth century, Charlottenburg Palace was gradually forgotten by the royal rulers. From 1880, it was no longer classified as a royal residence, and the grounds were opened to the public. In the Second World War, the palace was badly damaged: 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. though it was later rebuilt.
CURRENT SITUATION
In the Neuer Flügel (New Wing) , you can view the staterooms and the rococo ballroom known as the Goldene Galerie (Golden Gallery). The Silver Vault includes quite stunning tableware of gold, silver, glass and porcelain displayed on laid tables. Around 100 table services have survived intact, a vivid reminder of the magnificence of dining at court. The impressive display of the remaining pieces of the Prussian crown jewels, complete with the imperial insignias, as well as personal treasures, such as the elaborated designed, exquisite snuffboxes collected by Friedrich the Great, are also well worth seeing. The Porcelain Cabinet in the Old Palace - re-opened on 1st October, 2017 - offers a breathtaking collection of the finest blue-and-white porcelain decorating the entire room.
Charlottenburg Palace is renowned for its wonderful baroque garden. 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.
The highlights in the park are the mausoleum (containing several sarcophagi of German royalty), the Belvedere tea house and the Neuer Pavillon, a small neo-classical house modelled on a Neapolitan villa.
