"Charlottenburg in delightful Berlin!"
Charlottenburg! Charlottenburg!
A castle, a memorial, a place in history.
An area of Berlin, Charlottenburg can be seen both as a sad symbol of brutal Nazi Germany and as a celebration to 17th century leadership.
The borough is home to the Gedenkstatte Plotzensee, which is a memorial for those murdered by the Nazis, who held power over the region from 1933 to 1945. .
But it is also home to the Charlottenburg Schloss, or castle, which was constructed in the very late 17th century for Elector Frederick III’s wife.
It was originally intended to be her summer home, but was later expanded when Frederick became the first Prussian king. The castle was nearly destroyed by Allied bombings during World War II, but after the war was meticulously reconstructed to nearly its original state. The castle houses a porcelain gallery of fine Japanese and Chinese porcelains, as well as a small chapel.
There is a park that was build in the 1800s behind the castle that is now open to the public. The park also has a mausoleum, a pavilion and an area now referred to as the Belvedere, which is another porcelain museum. The mausoleum also holds the sarcophagus of Friedrich Wilhelm II and other.
Overall, the castle, the largest in Berlin, is considered a prominent example of Baroque architecture, and its emphasis on the porcelain industry also goes beyond simple display. The museum inside offers a history and information about the history and origins of porcelain manufacturing.
Also, in what was once the complex’s theatre, a museum has been set up focusing on the Heinrich Schliemann’s excavations at Troy. Visitors who come to the castle often remark on the calmness and serenity of the environment and are pleasantly surprised at how much they enjoyed the experience. Not a widely popular place, despite its important place in history, word-of-mouth has grown its annual visitation. No pictures are allowed inside, but many tourist enjoy snapping shots of the park as they stroll the grounds.