Babelsberg Palace

Summary

Babelsberg Palace (German: Schloss Babelsberg) lies in the eponymous park and quarter of Potsdam, the capital of the German state of Brandenburg, near Berlin. For over 50 years it was the summer residence of Prince William, later German Emperor William I and King of Prussia and his wife, Augusta of the House of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, German Empress and Queen of Prussia. Along with the surrounding park and other parks in the area, the Babelsberg Palace was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1990 for its architectural cohesion and its testimony to the power of the Prussian monarchy.[1]

Babelsberg Palace
Schloss Babelsberg
Babelsberg Palace
Babelsberg Palace is located in Berlin
Babelsberg Palace
Location in Berlin
General information
TypePalace
Architectural styleGothic revival
Town or cityPotsdam
CountryGermany
Coordinates52°24′25″N 13°05′35″E / 52.407°N 13.093°E / 52.407; 13.093
Construction started1833
Completed1849
ClientPrince (later Emperor)
William I
OwnerStiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg
Design and construction
Architect(s)Karl Friedrich Schinkel
Ludwig Persius
Johann Heinrich Strack
Website
Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten
Part ofPalaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin
CriteriaCultural: (i), (ii), (iv)
Reference532ter
Inscription1990 (14th Session)
Extensions1992, 1999

History edit

The building, designed in the English Gothic revival style, was built in two phases over the period 1833–1849. The contract to plan the palace was given to the architects Karl Friedrich Schinkel, who was in charge of the works until his death, in 1841, Ludwig Persius and Johann Heinrich Strack.

On 22 September 1862 in the palace and adjoining park the discussion between King William I of Prussia and Otto von Bismarck took place that ended with the nomination of Bismarck as Minister President and Foreign Minister of Prussia.

The architecture of Babelsberg Palace formed the template for the construction of Kittendorf Palace between 1848 and 1853 in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, by Schinkel's pupil, Friedrich Hitzig.

World Heritage Site edit

Since 1990, Babelsberg Palace has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin". The palace is administered by the Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg.

Since 2013, the palace has been undergoing an intense renovation of its facades and interiors.

 
The palace around 1900

Gallery edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 12 Jun 2022.
  • Amtlicher Führer der Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg: Park und Schloss Babelsberg. 3rd edition, 1999
  • Gert Streidt, Klaus Frahm: Potsdam. Die Schlösser und Gärten der Hohenzollern. Könemann Verlagsgesellschaft mbH. Cologne, 1996. ISBN 3-89508-238-4
  • Georg Poensgen: Schloss Babelsberg. Deutscher Kunstverlag, Berlin 1929.

External links edit

  • Babelsberg Palace on the website Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten

52°24′28″N 13°05′36″E / 52.407639°N 13.093289°E / 52.407639; 13.093289