Are you looking for a royal adventure near Berlin? Check out this post for 10 castles near Berlin worth exploring!
Full of breathtaking beauty, stunning architecture, and fascinating stories, the castles and palaces in or around Berlin are sure to leave a lasting impression. The city of Berlin is actually home to many castles and palaces for many reasons. For one thing, the city is considered to be the seat of the kings of Prussia who later on became German emperors. This, as a result, is why Berlin is surrounded by many royal palaces and summer residences to this day.
So, if you’re interested in being transported back to the era of Prussian royalty, keep reading! This post alone highlights 10 castles/palaces near Berlin worth exploring for the best royal adventure.
Germany Travel Series
P.S. This is a post in my Germany Travel series. Here is the complete series:
Cologne Restaurants: Where To Find the Best Restaurants in Cologne Germany
Prettiest Cities: The Top 8 Prettiest Cities in Germany You Need To Visit
Uber: Is There Uber in Germany?
Beer Festivals: 10 Top German Beer Festivals in Germany Other Than Oktoberfest
Castles Near Berlin Map
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Charlottenburg Palace (castles near berlin)
The Charlottenburg Palace is a great castle in Berlin worth exploring due to its history, architecture, and gardens. For one thing, at the palace, you can learn about the Hohenzollern family and the Prussian crown jewels. The Hohenzollern family was a royal family that once ruled over Germany and Romania many years ago and they lived in the Charlottenburg Palace. The Prussian crown jewels were the royal regalia used to crown monarchs of Prussia from the House of Hohenzollern.
Pertaining to its architecture, once you’re at the palace you can admire its baroque style from the inside and out. It was even built as a summer residence for Sophie Charlotte, the wife of Prussian King Frederick I.
Lastly, the gardens in the palace stand out due to them being comprised of 55-hectare grounds that include the Royal Gardens and a family mausoleum. So, if this palace is of interest to you, I highly recommend visiting. The gardens are free for anyone to enter and some people recommend visiting in the winter to admire the palace’s intricate details.
Sanssouci Palace (castles near berlin)
The Sanssouci Palace is another great castle near Berlin worth exploring due to its Rococo splendor, historical significance, and picturesque gardens. For one thing, when it comes to its Rococo splendor or artistic style, the palace’s rooms are decorated with a natural theme that includes flowers, birds, fruit, and the rocaille motif, which is a C-shaped shell. The concert hall is also just as beautiful with its gilded ceiling, filigree, and paintings by Antoine Pesne.
In regard to its historical significance, the palace was the summer residence of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, who built it between the years of 1747 and 1748. Since the palace was built by him, it was well linked to his personality. The king himself was even buried at the palace in a crypt on the palace’s vineyard terrace.
Lastly, the palace’s picturesque gardens have landscaping that combines both French and English garden styles. In fact, the terraced vineyard leading up to the gardens is still a highlight for many visitors today.
Bellevue Palace (castles near berlin)
The Bellevue Palace otherwise known as the White House of Berlin is another great palace in Berlin worth exploring due to its architecture, gardens, and history. For one thing, when it comes to its architecture, the palace has a white neoclassical building with a main wing and two side wings. It also has sandstone figures on the portal gable that symbolize hunting, farming, and fishing.
In regard to its gardens, the place is surrounded by landscaped gardens with vantage points that overlook Charlottenburg, the south-west of Berlin, and the Spree river.
Lastly, the palace was built by Prince August Ferdinand of Prussia between 1785 and 1787. Theodor Heuss, the first president of the Federal Republic of Germany, also made it his official Berlin residence in 1994. So, if this palace is of interest to you, I highly recommend visiting. It’s located in the Tiergarten district of Berlin, near the German Bundestag and the Federal Chancellery.
Friedrichsfelde Palace (castles near berlin)
The Friedrichsfelde Palace is another great palace in Berlin worth exploring due to its rich history, cultural significance, and decor. For one thing, when it comes to its rich history, the palace actually has a permanent exhibition in the east wing that’s dedicated to the history of the palace and Berlin. Culturally, the palace has an amazing ballroom where cultural events are held as well as musical concerts. As for its decor, since the place is a luxury 18th-century residence, its decor includes floral wallpaper, animal motifs, chandeliers, and portraits of former residents.
So, if this palace is of interest to you, I highly recommend visiting. The palace’s rooms have even been used for weddings and galas so it’s the perfect place to host an event.
Glienicke Palace (castles near berlin)
The Glienicke Palace is another palace in Berlin worth exploring since it’s a touch of Italy amid Deutschland. Other reasons to visit the Glienicke Palace include its architectural beauty, Mediterranean vibes, and historical significance. For one thing, when it comes to its architectural beauty, the palace itself is a masterpiece of classicism since it has elegant features such as marble fireplaces, ornate decorations, and a charming casino building by the water.
The Mediterranean vibes of the palace are also due to Prince Carl of Prussia, who commissioned the place. He wanted to have a palace that recreated the feels of an Italian villa without actually having to go back to Italy, which from the looks of the video, is clearly evident in its design and atmosphere.
Lastly, as for its historical significance, the palace is a part of the “Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin” UNESCO World Heritage Site since it showcases the rich history of Prussian architecture.
Pfaueninsel Palace (castles near berlin)
The Pfaueninsel Palace is another palace in Berlin worth exploring due to its notable design, World War II (WWII) survival, and place on Peacock Island (Pfaueninsel). For one thing, when it comes to its notable design, Countess Wilhelmine von Lichtenau designed its interior by selecting high-quality pieces rather than following a particular style. The palace also surprisingly survived WWII so it still remains in its original condition. Its place on Peacock Island even makes it the perfect palace to come across free-roaming peacocks, rare trees and plants, and water buffaloes.
So, if this palace is of interest to you, I highly recommend visiting. Peacock Island is accessible by ferry all year round so feel free to visit the Pfaueninsel Palace any time of the year.
Spandau Citadel (castles near berlin)
The Spandau Citadel is another palace in Berlin worth exploring due to its history, cultural events, and museums. For one thing, when it comes to its history, the palace is technically a well-preserved fortress built in the 16th century to protect Berlin-Cölln. The oldest part of the fortress can even be traced back to the Middle Ages with the Juliusturm (Julius Tower) being one of the oldest secular buildings in Berlin.
In regard to its cultural events, the Citadel is known for hosting a variety of them that include but are not limited to concerts, plays, performances, medieval festivals, and banquets. The Citadel Music Festival even features top international artists in the summer.
Lastly, as for the museums, the Citadel has several of them which include but are not limited to the City History Museum, the Archaeological Window, the Kronprinz and the Alte Kaserne galleries.
Schönhausen Palace (castles near berlin)
The Schönhausen Palace is another palace in Berlin worth visiting due to its historical significance, diverse exhibition, and gardens. For one thing, when it comes to its historical significance, the Schönhausen Palace was a key site in German politics and history. It played a role in the reunification of Germany since it was a site for the “Two-plus-Four Talks” and it was the site of Elector Frederick III’s coronation as “King of Prussia”.
In regard to its diverse exhibition, the palace’s exhibition covers three centuries of German history, with furnished rooms in different styles. For instance, some rooms were furnished authentically in relevance to the Communist era while the Fireside Room displayed furnishings from 1978.
Lastly, as for its gardens, they showcase 300 years of garden history from Baroque to the 1950s. It was even at its height around 1740 to 1797 because Queen Elisabeth Christine spent her summers there.
Biesdorf Palace (castles near berlin)
The Biesdorf Palace is another palace in Berlin worth visiting due to its architecture, art, and accessibility. For one thing, when it comes to its architecture, the palace is known for its distinctive octagonal tower and reddish screed cement facade. This was all designed by Heino Schmieden in 1868 who made the palace the late-classical villa it is today.
In regard to its art, the palace is known for hosting temporary exhibitions of contemporary art as well as a permanent one about the palace’s history and architecture.
Lastly, as for its accessibility, the palace has free admission for everyone as well as a wheelchair-accessible entrance and restroom. So, if this palace is of interest to you, I highly recommend visiting. The palace is also LGBTQ+ friendly and it’s a great place to read, walk your dog, or have a picnic.
Köpenick Palace (castles near berlin)
The Köpenick Palace is another palace in Berlin worth visiting due to its decorative arts, history, and picturesque setting. For one thing, when it comes to its decorative arts, the palace houses RoomArt, which is the Museum of Decorative Arts’ permanent exhibition, that showcases decorative arts from the Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo periods. Some highlights from the exhibition include but are not limited to the inlaid wainscoting from the palaces Haldenstein and Höllrich, the Wiesentheid Chamber of Mirrors, and the Lacquer Room.
In regard to its history, the palace is a paragon of a Hohenzollern palace since it was built during the reign of the Great Elector. The basement of the palace even comprises archaeological findings and remains of the castle’s previous tower which provides a lot of insight into the building’s history.
Lastly, as for its picturesque setting, the palace is situated on a waterfront in the Köpenick district, making it a charming place for a royal adventure.
Overall, I hope you enjoyed this post on the 10 castles near Berlin worth exploring for your royal adventure. Please let me know in the comments below if you’ve been to any of the castles/palaces I mentioned and what your experience was like. I would love to hear from you! 🙂
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