I included Charlottenburg Palace in my post on Berlin, and I have received a few emails asking about it since! It is an amazing piece of architecture and anyone could easily spend half a day to a day here. It is easy to see why people lounge and relax in the gardens for hours, and why people spend as long as possible in the palace itself.
Charlottenburg Palace (aka Schloss Charlottenburg) was built in the 17th century, and further expanded and developed in the 18th century. Built for Sophia Charlotte, Friedrich III’s wife, it now bears her name. It was nearly destroyed in bombings in 1943, but was carefully restored by the government to its former glory and prestige.
I find myself drawn to the Baroque style! While it tends to be in dark colours, it still seems huge and never-ending to me. The amount of fine detail really stuck out to me as I wandered through the palace- the gilt silver and gold on mirrors, tables, picture frames, and railings is incredible.
Something that stuck out to me throughout the entire palace was the amount of porcelain. No matter what room you are in, there is porcelain pottery lurking somewhere! You can spot the vase in the fireplace above- I keep all of my vases in the fireplace, don’t you??- and clearly displayed in a row below.
Little did I know… there is a room full of it!
It is mind-blowing to stop and think about just how many individual pieces there are throughout the palace.
The chapel is light and open, and the artwork/paintings are beautiful. It was somewhat surprising to me- I had the thought in my mind that it would be plain and small (given that Friedrich III was a Calvinist). I had to stop and sit here for a few moments!
This staircase also took me aback; pure white but incredibly detailed! The plasterwork must have taken ages and many hands, but it paid off.
And finally, once again, the gardens! If I lived close-by, I would spend days and days here. So calm and relaxing and beautiful.
Have you been to Charlottenburg Palace? Were you ever surprised (in a good way) by something when you were travelling?
Until tomorrow,
The Historian!
Wow! What an incredible staircase!
Right?? Something a little different!!
Definitely! I’ll be in Berlin in August, so I’m going to have to go see this for myself 🙂
Post the pictures after, please!!
Will do!!
Wow! Amazing. But I’d hate to be the person who has to clean all of that. I’d be terrified that I’d accidentally knock over a vase or something.
One of the most amazing places I’ve seen was The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island. It has one of the most impressive interiors I’ve ever seen.
But Neuschwanstein is pretty impressive too…..if you haven’t been there yet, you’d like it very much, I think.
I was scared to sneeze- what if a bracket wasn’t strong??
Neuschwanstein is on my list!! Next time I head to Germany, I am hoping to go further out! There is so much to see in Berlin, I wanted to make sure I made a good stab at it!!! Cinderella’s castle is next 🙂
Ausgezeichnet!
Such an amazing palace!
Thank you for taking us along.