Glienicke Palace

• 

  View of Glienicke Palace and the palace park.

• Tulips bloom in the park of Glienicke Palace.

• The roof of a pavilion in the garden of Glienicke Palace with a female figure as a column.

Glienicke Palace is an Italian villa on German soil. Designed by the damous architect Schinkel, the palace is now an impressive open-air museum and a World Heritage Site.

Glienicke Palace and the surrounding park exude Mediterranean charm. Prince Carl of Prussia had the small palace on the Havel rebuilt. The designs for this came from the architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel. The prince wanted a building similar to those he had admired so much during his trip to Italy. The Glienicke estate seemed perfect for the prince's ideas. The garden artist Peter Joseph Lenné had already created a pleasure ground for the previous owner, Karl August Prince von Hardenberg. The construction work on Prince Carl's palace and estate lasted several decades.

Italy on the banks of the Havel: Casio in Glienicker Schlosspark

Even before Schinkel made architectural changes to the main house, he built the Casio in 1824/25. The small neoclassical villa on the banks of the Havel was modeled on Italian buildings. There are two halls on the first floor, which were used for parties. Guests could stay in an apartment on the upper floor. Prince Carl kept valuable antique sculptures on the first floor. Through the high windows, visitors can enjoy a sweeping view of the Jungfernsee and Belvedere Palace as far as Potsdam. Antique exhibits from the prince's collection are also displayed around the Casio.

A blaze of color inside Glienicke Palace

Glienicke Palace is modeled on a two-storey Italian villa. The former manor house was rebuilt by Schinkel between 1825 and 1827. Schinkel kept the interior of the palace simple. The walls of the rooms were painted in bright colors. The Red Hall is the focal point of the upper floor. Strong colors also dominate the other rooms on the upper floor. In addition to the Red Hall, there is the green drawing room, the turquoise bedroom and the blue library. The marble room is particularly beautiful. Golden picture frames, chandeliers and valuable furniture accentuate the wall colors.

Unique in Europe: Court Garden Museum

In the west wing of the palace, visitors can visit the Hofgärtnermuseum (Court Gardeners' Museum), which is unique in Europe. The exhibition contains objects from three centuries. They illustrate the everyday life and activities of this profession.

Like an open-air museum: Glienicke Palace Gardens

But it's not just the castle and Casio that are impressive. The Glienicke Palace Gardens are also a special gem. Even before Prince Carl of Prussia acquired the land, landscape gardener Peter Joseph Lenné had transformed the grounds into a landscaped park for State Chancellor Karl August Prince von Hardenberg. Carl of Prussia had the grounds divided into a flower garden, pleasure grounds and park.

The Johanniterportal forms the main entrance to the castle grounds. Its gates are decorated with crosses of the Order of St. John, hence the name. Prince Carl of Prussia was awarded the title of Master of the Order in 1854. Two gilded griffins guard the entrance. The initials of the lord of the castle are engraved on the iron grille of the gate.

Lion fountain in the palace park

The lion fountain is a particular gem of the palace gardens. It was designed by Schinkel based on a model from the Villa Medici in Rome. The two bronze lions come from St. Petersburg. Next to the fountain is a covered, semi-circular bench. It was built by Schinkel's pupil and colleague Ludwig Persius in the style of antiquity.

Garden Courtyard with Mediterranean Atmosphere

At the back of Glienicke Palace, the garden courtyard invites you to take a stroll. A pergola, antique ornaments, a fountain and the cavalier's wing with tower create a Mediterranean atmosphere at the back of Glienicke Palace. The former coach house, which is located behind the cavalier's wing, is now a restaurant.

Große Neugierde

A highlight of the Glienicke Palace Park is the Große Neugier (Great Curiosity), a rotunda on the Glienicke Bridge. The viewpoint was built by Schinkel as a copy of the Lysikrates monument in Athens. Between the 16 Corinthian columns are gilded grilles with the heads of Zeus and Hera. The pavilion served as a vantage point.

Monastery Courtyard of Ferdinand von Arnim

The monastery courtyard is located close to the Casio and castle. It was built in 1850 by the court architect Ferdinand von Arnim from original parts of a medieval monastery demolished in Italy. The monastery courtyard served as an open-air museum for Carl von Prussia's collection of medieval art. The jewel in the crown is the sarcophagus of the Italian philosopher Pietro d'Albano.

Vom vernachlässigten Anwesen zum UNESCO-Weltkulturerbe

Glienicke Palace and the estate were neglected after the death of Prince Carl in 1883. Berlin bought the grounds in 1935. The park has been open to the public ever since. Glienicke Palace and the grounds have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990. In addition to its use as a museum, guided tours, lectures and concerts are regularly held in the castle and castle gardens.

Information

• Address:
  Königsstr. 36
  14109 Berlin
  City map
• Opening Hours: November-March: Saturday & Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ; April-October: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
• Please Note: Visits are only possible with a guide.
• Accessibility: The exhibition rooms are not accessible for wheelchair users.
• Website: www.spsg.de/en