BELLEVUE PALACE

Description

Essentials about Bellevue Palace in brief

Since 1994, Bellevue Palace, located on the northern edge of the Tiergarten park, has been the official residence of the German President. It is surrounded by an extensive park bordering the banks of the Spree River, to which the palace also owes its name “Bellevue”. The landscape architects designed the palace park like a fan with vantage points – so-called “points de vue” – to Charlottenburg, into the landscape to the southwest and over the Spree.

The history of Bellevue Palace

Bellevue Palace was commissioned by the Prussian Prince August Ferdinand at the end of the 18th century and completed just two years later. The estate served as a residence for the younger brother of Frederick the Great. The palace complex in early classicist style is characterized by its simplicity, but shines with one of the most beautiful landscaped gardens of that time. A few decades later, Bellevue Palace was converted into a modern art museum and from 1844 contemporary Prussian works were exhibited in the rooms on the first floor. In addition, under King Frederick-Wilhelm IV, the people were allowed access to the palace park. Two decades later, its use as an art museum was ended again and the palace was henceforth used by the Prussian court.

Bellevue Castle as the seat of the Bundespräsident

After World War I, Bellevue Palace served representative purposes for the first time in its use as a guest house of the Reich government. The palace was severely damaged during World War II and restored in the late 1950s. During this period, the German Bundestag also declared the property the second official residence of the Federal President, who had previously resided exclusively in Bonn. After German reunification, Bellevue Palace became the primary residence of federal presidents beginning in 1994. However, most federal presidents preferred not to move into Bellevue privately, but to use the palace exclusively for state ceremonies. All citizens can feel like state guests once a year on Open House Day and tour Bellevue Palace. Incidentally, you can see whether the Federal President is present by looking at the standard, the flag in front of the palace. If this is taken down, the Federal President is not in Bellevue.