Charlottenburg Palace



Charlottenburg Palace

Charlottenburg Palace

            The Charlottenburg Palace (Schloss) was built in 1699 for Sophie Charlotte, wife of Elector Frederick III who later becomes King Frederick I.  Throughout the 18^th century the Schloss was greatly expanded. It was decorated in the Baroque/ Rococo style influenced heavily by the French. It includes a large garden surrounded by woods, and other buildings including a belvedere, a mausoleum, a theatre and a pavilion built on the property. The Palace was damaged during an air raid in WWII but was completely restored. It is the largest palace in Berlin and the only building in Berlin that dates back to the time of the Hohenzollern family. It holds the largest collection of 18^th and 19^th century French paintings outside of France.

Map of the Charlottenburg Palace

 

Building/Expansion of the Schloss by Hohenzollern Dynasty

            The building of the original central part of the Schloss began in 1695 and was completed in 1699. It was meant to be a summer residence home for Elector Frederick III’s wife, Sophie Charlotte. The building was designed by Johann Arnold Nering. Between 1709-1712 after Fredrick III was made the first Prussian King, expansions of the Schloss began on the west side; adding a new wing, a cupola and an Orangery. Only minor changes to the Schloss were made during the reign of Frederick Wilhelm II and Frederick Wilhelm III. A small Theater and the Belvedere Tea house were built. In 1740, Frederick II (Frederick the Great) had the east wing added on to the Schloss and it designed by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff. Even though Frederick the Great had the Schloss worked on, he choose to reside in the palace in Potsdam.  

                                                                                       The cupola that was added to the Charlottenburg  Palace between 1709-1712.

The "Schinkel Pavillion" or New Pavillion was built in 1824/1825

for Frederick William III (Prussian King at the time).

It is located in the garden of the Charlottenburg Palace.

 

Interior of the Schloss

            The interior of the Schloss was decorated in the Baroque/Rococo style. The Baroque period originated in Italy during the late 16th century, next spreading to France, and continued to spread throughout Europe lasting in some areas like Germany until the 18th century. The later Baroque style is often referred to as Rococo. The Baroque period was influenced by the Counter Reformation of the Catholics. The style had architectural plans based on an oval, emphasized contrast in lighting often done with the use of windows, rooms were long and narrow, made use of bright,dark colors, had vividly painting ceilings, used lots of ornaments made of wood, stucco, or marble, and emphasized curved lines. The Baroque style was very dramatic. The Rococo style was similar to Baroque but it emphasized soft, pastel colors and nature.

The Mausoleum was built in 1810 on the west side of the Park for the burial of royal family members. Queen Louise, Prince Albert, Emperor Wilhelm I, and his wife Empress Augusta, Princess Liegnitz (2^nd wife of Frederick Wilhelm III, and within a stone casket lies the heart of Frederick Wilhelm IV. 

                      The Red Room

 

 The Porcelain Room in the Palace

There are many different rooms and apartments within the Schloss. Located in the east end the Schloss are the Oak Gallery with walls paneled in oak and displaying many oil paintings, the Porcelain Gallery which has lots of mirrors and Chinese porcelain, the White Hall which was the dining room, the Gallery of Romantics which is home to the collection of paintings from the German Romantic Period. In the west wing is the Schlosskapelle which is where King Frederick Wilhelm II was married. The Golden Gallery is an important room that exemplifies the Rococo style of decorating. The walls are four times longer than they are wide, there are windows on both sides, and it is decorated with many stucco ornaments against a pink and green background.

 

The Golden Room

 

 

 

   Der Schlosspark

 

  The original park was modeled on the French Baroque style designed by Simeon Godeau. During the 18^th and 19^th century is it evolved into a more English style of landscape and then after WWII it returned to its original Baroque design. The Belvedere Tea house located in the north part of the park now contains 18^th and early19^th century Berlin porcelain.  The Mausoleum was built in 1810 on the west side of the Park for the burial of royal family members.  Also located in the park is the Schinkel Pavillion. Located near the entrance to the palace is the statue of Frederick William of Brandenburg also known as the Great Elector (der Große Kurfuerst).

 

The statue of Frederick William of Brandenburg also known as the Great Elector (der Große Kurfuerst)  was originally in place at the Lange Brücke but during WWII while being moved sunk to the bottom of Tegeler See but was recovered and is now located at the Charlottenburg Palace.

 

Significance of the Hohenzollern Family

 

The Hohenzollern dynasty was the established ruling family of Brandenburg and Prussia from the early 15th century until the end of WWI. The ruling of this family brought the hundreds of kingdoms of Germany together to form a nation-state which was unified in 1871. Before Frederick William (later known at the Great Elector) the territories under the Hohenzollern rule were not unified and often in conflict with each other. The Great Elector emphasized a strong army and weakened independence for cities. From his rule onward Prussia grew in size and influence. Frederick I established Prussia as a Kingdom and Brandenburg became part of Prussia in 1701 when he declared himself the King. Brandenburg is a small state with Berlin as its Capital. Frederick the Great greatly increased the territory of Prussia through purchase, conquest, and annexation. Frederick William IV helped lead the German kingdoms to unity and was elected the first Emperor under a united Germany though he refused the position. The significance of the Hohenzollern family in Germany is that under their leadership, Germany became united for the first time.

 

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