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This palace is named after Queen Sophie Charlotte of Hanover. She was married to Elector Frederick III, who ruled as King in Prussia from 1701 and then called himself Frederick I. Frederick gave his wife a plot of land in the village of Lietze/Lützow, which at the time was about 7 kilometres from Berlin. Sophie Charlotte had a summer residence built here, which was named “Charlottenburg” after her early death. King Frederick II, also known as “the Great,” later made his home here. However, not long afterwards he had Sanssouci Palace built in Potsdam. After that, he rarely stayed at the expanded Charlottenburg Palace. Even after Frederick II’s death, the palace was used only occasionally by the kings and queens of Prussia. The palace was badly damaged during the air raids on Berlin in World War II. Reconstruction was completed in 1957. The grounds around the palace include Charlottenburg Palace Gardens, the New Pavilion, the Belvedere Tea House and the Mausoleum, where Queen Louise, who died in 1810, is buried.

Image: Hamsterkiste