Schloss Charlottenburg

The largest palace complex of the Hohenzollern in Berlin

Schloss Charlottenburg stands on Spandauer Damm and is the largest complex that the electors, Prussian kings and German emperors left behind in Berlin. The Old Palace was built around 1700 as a summer residence for Sophie Charlotte, commissioned by Frederick the First, and was largely restored after heavy war damage. Behind it the wide palace garden begins, with its carp pond, the Belvedere and the mausoleum, where a picnic fits in nicely before or after the party. The stop in front of the house carries the name of the palace, and the stations Richard-Wagner-Platz and Sophie-Charlotte-Platz are within walking distance. The whole site is looked after by the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation, which runs the birthday programme as a fixed offer. The celebrating happens in the New Wing rather than the Old Palace, and the meeting point is the group desk in the Court of Honour in the middle of the complex. The programme suits guests with limited mobility, though pushchairs stay outside the rooms.

Costumes, a tour and a minuet at the end

The programme is called a guest of the king and runs in three stations over two and a half hours. First the children are dressed, over their own clothes: skirts with hip padding and lined tops for the princesses, knee breeches, waistcoats, jabots, sashes and tricorne hats for the princes. Then a guide leads the court through the rooms and tells them about Frederick the Great and his palace. At the end a reception with a minuet to music of the eighteenth century is on the plan. The offer is made for children from seven to twelve at most, as younger ones tend to lose interest. Because the changing area is small, no more than eight children and two companions can take part, and those companions help with the costumes and keep an eye on the group. The flat rate is 175 euros for the whole group. Eating and drinking are not allowed inside Schloss Charlottenburg, so the catering happens before or afterwards. Requests go through the foundations group service.