Berlin Palace

The Berlin Palace has shaped the image of the city for several centuries. Built as the seat of the Hohenzollern rulers, it has survived war and destruction. In 1950, it was blown up with 13 tonnes of explosives as the "plunder of history". From 1973 to 1976, the Palast der Republik was built on the same site as the seat of the GDR People's Chamber. Only 30 years later, the building was demolished again because of asbestos. But a new castle is being built - following historical plans in its old place opposite the Berlin Cathedral. In the future, the Humboldt Forum will enrich the cultural landscape of Berlin's Museum Island with its interdisciplinary concept.

A changing castle history: of princely rulers and socialist statesmen

Berlin Palace is located in the heart of the city nearby to Berlin's most important museums. Built in 1443 by Elector Frederick II, it has served as the residence of the Hohenzollern family since 1451. Over time, the changing rulers left their mark on the building: depending on the period, elements of the Renaissance and Baroque styles were integrated. In the Second World War, the castle was severely damaged. However, it did not come to its final end until 1950, when SED party leader and secretary general of the Central Committee Walter Ulbricht ordered the demolition of the monarchist city castle. The Palace of the Republic was built in its place in the 1970s. The socialist GDR government saw it as a political and cultural centre. The population, on the other hand, gave it the nickname "Erichs Lampenladen" (Erich's Lamp Shop), inspired by Honecker, because of the numerous lamps. The asbestos-contaminated building was closed when the GDR ended before it was demolished between 2006 and 2009.

A new cultural centre in the centre of Berlin

Since 2013, the Berlin Palace has been rebuilt in its original form. A part of the historic cityscape will be revived where for a long time there was a huge gap between buildings. Following the plans of Italian architect Franco Stella, three of the exterior facades are being reconstructed true to the original. The fourth side facing the Spree forms a modern contrast. The exterior may be reminiscent of past times, but the interior design is entirely oriented towards a future-oriented, modern utilisation concept. The Humboldt Forum sees itself as an interdisciplinary art, culture, and science centre, in which a permanent exhibition on the city of Berlin and rooms for cultural events can be accommodated in addition to various museums. The Humboldt Box on the forecourt is informative with numerous films, pictures, and models about the background of the building project and its future use.

Discover the city castle and other exciting sights with the Berlin WelcomeCard

If you would like to discover the castle and many other sights on your city trip to Berlin, we recommend the Berlin WelcomeCard. Berlin's most popular tourist ticket offers you over 200 discount offers with up to 50% savings on many of Berlin's most popular attractions. WelcomeCard holders also receive special offers for many cultural and theatre events. The WelcomeCard also allows you free use of public transport.