Charlottenburg
SCHLOß CHARLOTTENBURG, SAVIGNYPLATZ, RATHAUS
Charlottenburg is a large, wealthy district that occupies the central part of West Berlin., part of the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf borough. It is famous for the large baroque Charlottenburg Palace and park, and the avenue Kufürstendamm, that is presented on this page. Charlottenburg was an independent town between 1705 and 1920, when it was incorporated into Greater Berlin. It is situated just west of the large park Tiergarten.
Schloß Charlottenburg Palace and Garden:
Charlottenburg Palace is the largest palace in Berlin and the only surviving royal residence in the city dating back to the time of the Hohenzollern family. The palace was built at the end of the 17th century and was greatly expanded during the 18th century. It includes much exotic internal decoration in baroque and rococo styles. A large formal garden surrounded by woodland was added behind the palace, including a belvedere, a mausoleum, a theatre and a pavilion. During the Second World War, the palace was badly damaged but has since been reconstructed. The palace with its gardens are a major tourist attraction. Source: Wikipedia
The green lawn in front of the Charlottenburg Castle, a place I relaxed a bit after a long walk from Breitscheidplatz.
The original palace was commissioned by Sophie Charlotte, the wife of Friedrich III, Elector of Brandenburg in what was then the village of Lietzow. Originally named Lietzenburg, the palace was designed by Johann Arnold Nering in baroque style. It consisted of one wing and was built in 2½ storeys with a central cupola. The façade was decorated with Corinthian pilasters. On the top was a cornice on which were statues. At the rear in the centre of the palace were two oval halls, the upper one being a ceremonial hall and the lower giving access to the gardens. Nering died during the construction of the palace and the work was completed by Martin Grünberg and Andreas Schlüter. The inauguration of the palace was celebrated on 11 July 1699, Frederick's 42nd birthday. Source: Wikipedia
The entrance to Charlottenburg, seen from the south.
The golden female sculpture at the top of the palace.
Schlosstrasse (Castle Street), the boulevard opposite the castle.
Spandauer Damm, the street in front of Charlottenburg and the beginning of Schlosstrasse. Two identical buildings with domes in classical style are situated on each side of Schlosstrasse.
The Orangerie.
A woman dressed in a historic dress stood at the entrance to the palace. It closed in the evening so I never had the opportunity to go inside.
There is a large baroque garden (Schlosspark) on the backside (north) of the palace.
The garden, Schlosspark, was designed in 1697 in baroque style by Simeon Godeau who had been influenced by André Le Nôtre, designer of the gardens at Versailles. Godeau's design consisted of geometric patterns, with avenues and moats, which separated the garden from its natural surroundings. Beyond the formal gardens was the Carp Pond. Towards the end of the 18th century, a less formal, more natural-looking garden design became fashionable. In 1787 the Royal Gardener Georg Steiner redesigned the garden in the English landscape style for Friedrich Wilhelm II, the work being directed by Peter Joseph Lenné. After the Second World War, the centre of the garden was restored to its previous baroque style. Source: Wikipedia
The Carp Pond.
Looking towards the Belvedere, bult in 1697 in baroque style.
The straight angles of the baroque Schlosspark.
The Carp Pond, Karpfenteich.
The carp pond in the palace garden of Charlottenburg. It should be called duck pond instead.
Angels guarding the East entrance. River Spree flows on the other side of the palace gardens.
Charlottenburg, urban areas:
Charlottenburg is mostly a wealthy district, but it has a mixed feeling; old jugend buildings, grey blocks of flats, as well as a beautiful gothic town hall can be found here. In the part where Ku-damm is, that is the center of City-West there are skyscrapers and large department stores and shopping mall, but it is featured on a separate page.
A jugend building overlooking the palace, across the Spree.
The colourful metro station at Richard-Wagner-Platz near the Charlottenburg palace.
Savignyplatz:
The elevated track of Savignyplatz station.
Savignyplatz, a nice square some blocks north of Ku-damm and south of Charlottenburg palace.
Typical west Berlin, a bit parisian like street, at Savignyplatz.
Savignyplatz was named after the jurist Friedrich Carl von Savigny.
Bronze sculptures by August Krauz at Savignyplatz.
Schlüterstrasse:
A beautiful building at Schlüterstrasse near Savignyplatz.
Schlüterstrasse.
Bismarckstrasse:
Deutsche Oper on Bismarckstrasse. Not a beautiful building, but famous for its performances. Opened in 1911 and was destroyed in 1935, but in 1961 the current opera was completed. During the nazi times Joseph Gobbels supported the opera. Birgitt Nilsson is one of the opera singers that has performed here.
Bismarckstrasse is a wide avenue with grey modernist and highrise architecture.
Technische Universität (Technical University) highrise at Ernst-Reuter-Platz seen from Bismarckstrasse.
Otto-Suhr Allé and Charlottenburg Rathaus:
Otto-Suhr Allé: View towards Charlottenburg Palace and Charlottenburg Town Hall. The alley was built in what was then the kingdom of Prussia and lead to the city of Berlin, that Charlottenburg now is part of.
Otto-Suhr Allé.
Charlottenburg Rathaus (Town Hall) is located at the busy boulevard Otto-Suhr Allé and features a 89 m tall gothic tower. Designed by Heinrich Reinhardt & Georg Süßenguth. It was built 1899-1905.
Charlottenburg was an independent town until 1920. It is now a borough and district of Berlin.
Charlottenburg, 300 years. Outside the Town Hall.