What was talked about and discussed about the Berlin City Palace and people's minds were heated like in a sauna: "Do we really still need a palace in Berlin?
And after all the pros and cons, construction began and the costs are expected to be around 590 million euros. What could have been good with the money, but let's wait until it is finished. Maybe we will all be unspeakably happy that Berlin has its "old" city castle back.
Since 29 June 2011, the Humboldt-Box on Schlossplatz has been informing you about the steps on the way to the Humboldtforum as well as about exhibitions and events. The Humboldtforum will then have around 55,000 square metres of space at its disposal. The Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation will occupy the largest share of this space.
The Humboldt University, the Berlin State and Central Library and the museums of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation will move in there. On 14 September 2019, the city palace is to be completed.
City Palace in Berlin
Location & Sights nearby
The City Palace is located in the centre of the Berlin-Mitte district and is infallible. Located on the famous Museum Island, a visit to the castle offers the opportunity to visit one of the many museums, such as the renowned Pergamon Museum or the impressive Old Museum.
Close to the City Palace you find a lot of other city sights like the TV Tower, the Neptune Fountain, the Red Town Hall, the World Clock and the Berlin Cathedral around the corner. Start a boat trip from there and enjoy Berlin´s city center from the riverside perspective.
At the Domaquareé you will find several moorings for a boat trip on the Spree. Sailing on the Spree for an hour and seeing Berlin's sights from the water is one of the best activities for Berlin visitors.
Weather
Brief history of the City Palace
The site of the castle was used in different ways for more than six centuries. The first to arrive was Elector Friedrich II on 31 July 1442, who laid the foundation stone for the double city of Berlin-Cölln. As early as 1451, the Elector moved into his new residence, which became the permanent seat of the Prince. In 1465 the palace complex was supplemented by the important late Gothic Erasmus chapel. Afterwards the castle was constantly rebuilt, extended and "reinvented" and was connected with the cathedral church. The castle was badly damaged during the Thirty Years' War. Elector Friedrich Wilhelm had the castle rebuilt into an imposing baroque building and a pleasure garden was created. During the Weimar Republic, the palace housed the palace museum and other institutions.
In 1945, during the Second World War, the city palace was almost destroyed by a bombing raid. It then came to an abrupt end on 7 September 1950. Walter Ulbricht, Chairman of the GDR State Council, had the castle blown up. After 21 years, Erich Honecker, Walter Ulbricht's successor, had the Palast der Republik built in 1971. With the completion in 1976, "Erichs Lampenladen", as the palace was also called among the population, became a place for numerous events. After the fall of communism, the palace was closed and demolished in 2003 due to heavy asbestos infestation. Now the square was once again empty.
On 12 June 2013, the foundation stone was laid for the new building of the city palace as Humboldtforum. Three of the baroque facades are to be rebuilt, housing several museums and providing rooms for science and events. The topping-out ceremony was celebrated on 12 June 2015.
On 14 September 2019, the City Palace is to be completed.
A good 30 years will then have passed since the fall of the Berlin Wall. A gap in Berlin, located directly on the river Spree, will thus be closed in Berlin's cityscape
Address, opening hours ...
Address: Schlossplatz 1, 10178 Berlin
Connection: U Bahn Hausvogteiplatz (U2), Spittelmarkt (U2), Bus: 147 (Neumannsgasse), 100, 200, N2 (Lustgarten), 248, 265, 147, M48 (Fischerinsel)
Live Webcam City Palace Berlin!
Sights, tours and tickets ... on Tripadvisor.
Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag Building, Pergamon Museum and many other landmarks & sights make a visit to Berlin unique.
Trip AdvisorOur Berlin tip:
Experience Berlin through the 21 windows of the vintage bus. Enjoy an exceptional and exclusive sightseeing tour in the legendary VW T1 Samba bus. Discover the history of almost 50 sights of Berlin in two hours.
More information can be found here.
