Schloss Charlottenburg, the largest and most beautiful palace in Berlin, is a shining example of baroque architecture.
It was built from 1695-99 as a summer residence for Sophie Charlotte, the consort of Elector Friedrich III., to plans by Johann Arnold Nering and Martin Grünberg, though at first only the central part was actually built. In 1701, after the coronation of the Elector as King Friedrich I. of Prussia, the palace was extended by Eosander von Göthe in the style of the palace at Versailles: the main building was extended and side axes were created around the courtyard. In addition, the Great Orangery was constructed on the western wing, while a domed tower with tambour crowned the main building. Knobelsdorff constructed the eastern wing from 1740-46. From 1787-91, Carl Langhans constructed the palace theatre as an extension to the orangery wing.
The palace was badly damaged during the Second World War, and rebuilding work began in the Fifties. The splendor of the Berlin Baroque is particularly apparent in the Great Oak Gallery, a banqueting hall with magnificent carvings which was completed in 1713, and the Porcelain Room, with its valuable collection of Chinese and Japanese porcelain. Other impressive rooms include the banqueting halls designed by Knobelsdorff from 1740-47, the White Room and the Golden Gallery, a rococo room in soft pastel tones with rich golden ornamentation.
The palace park grounds, one of the most idyllic oases in the city, is a favored spot for both tourists and Berliners. The park features a Mausoleum constructed by Schinkel in the style of a temple, which contains amongst other the sarcophagi of Queen Luise and Friedrich Wilhelm III., designed by Christian Daniel Rauch. The Belvedere, formerly a teahouse and built by Langhans at the same time as the theatre, now displays an exhibition on the history of royal porcelain manufacture. The Pavilion constructed by Schinkel in the classical style, formerly a summer house, is the perfect setting for the furniture, pictures and sculptures on display there, conjuring up the life and style of the early 19^th century.