Berlin Palace

Welcome to the Berlin Palace, or the Berliner Schloss, a site that is perhaps the most controversial and fascinating architectural project in modern Germany. What you see before you is a massive reconstruction of the ancestral…

Standing on the western side of the building, you are confronted with a breathtaking illusion of the eighteenth century. These three facades are a meticulous reconstruction of the work of Andreas Schlueter, the 'Michelangelo of…

Now, walk around to the side of the building facing the River Spree. Here, the historical illusion vanishes completely. …

Step inside the Schlueterhof, arguably the most beautiful space in the entire complex. This courtyard is a partial reconstruction of the palace’s original grand court. …

Inside the building, the purpose of this reconstruction becomes clear: the Humboldt Forum. Named after the brothers Wilhelm and Alexander von Humboldt—one a linguist and reformer, the other a world-traveling scientist—this…

Descending into the lower levels of the palace, we reach the Sculpture Cellar and the archaeological basement. Here, you can see the original foundations of the palace that date back to the late Middle Ages. …

To conclude your visit, take the elevator to the roof terrace. From here, you are standing at one of the highest public points in the center of Berlin. …

As we leave the Berlin Palace, take a final walk around its perimeter. This building is a paradox: a brand-new antique, a royal home filled with global treasures, and a site that both remembers and replaces the socialist past. …