Il Viaggio

By: ilviaggiopsd

Jun 02 2011

Category: Uncategorized

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In the 1700s, Schloss Charlottenburg was built for the King’s (or Kaiser’s) wife, Sophie Charlotte, as a summer palace. She and her husband were the first of the royalty of Prussia. Not unlike Versailles, this palace was built way outside of the edge of Berlin. Unlike Versailles it’s inhabitants were loved by the people.

Today the palace is in what Germans call the center of Berlin. Besides having a lovely interior, which we couldn’t photograph, it had lovely gardens in the French style. Prussia (northern Germany) was coming into it’s own and very much liked most things that were French. You could see hints of Paris everywhere in the architecture and gardens. The differences occurred in the who the paintings were, that’s about it!

The dome and a great deal of the palace were destroyed by a bomb during World War 2. The restoration is going well.

One of the best stories of the day was regarding Queen Louise of Prussia who loved staying at Charlottenburg. When Napoleon was rampaging across Europe he ran lovely Louise out of her palace. Napoleon also had the nerve to sleep in her bed at Charlottenburg! She sent a strongly worded letter to Napoleon in her exile, which made no difference in the wars, but upon her return to Charlottenburg she made another room her bedroom refusing to sleep where Napoleon did. Women of the time did what they could.

On the subway our tickets were checked by another “passenger”. The checker guys are really trying to blend in!