image author: Scriptusnet

In the Middle Ages, there was already At this a Slavic castle facility situated here, which was probably the residence of Prince Jaczo de Copenic. In the middle of the 16th-century, Elector Joachim ordered to build a hunting lodge in Renaissance style in the place of the moated castle. During the Thirty Year War, Gustav Adolf of Sweden stayed here. At the end of the 17th century the Great elector ordered the rebuilding of the palace to its present form. From the 22nd to the 28th of October 1730, the court martial met here on the order by Frederick William to judge over Crown Prince Frederick II and his friend lieutenant Hans Hermann von Katte, who had helped the crown prince with an escape attempt. From 1849 to 1962 the palace served as a teacher's seminar. From 1963 onwards, the palace housed one part of the Arts and Craft Museum, which was founded in 1867, as it could not be reconciled after Berlin's separation. The other part can be seen at the Arts and Crafts Museum at the Kulturforum. Inside the rooms of the baroque palace with its magnificently decorated stucco ceilings, furniture, ceramic, porcelain, glass, textiles, goldsmith, metal and leather works are being exhibited. They give an overview of 900 years European crafts to the present. Worth a special mention is Empress Gisela's gold jewellery and a gothic chest front piece from Lower Saxony, the oak panelled coffered ceiling Graubünden Renaissance-room with pretty carvings as well as the 'Berlin Silver Sideboard', which was originally situated at the knight's hall of the Stadtschloss. It is the biggest baroque ensemble of the centrepieces with artistic gold, silver and brass works by the brothers Biller from Augsburg. At the palace annexe is a gallery for special exhibitions with works of contemporary artists housed. Well worth seeing is also the palace chapel where concerts take place. The palace park is a facility with rare trees from the 19th century. From the Long Bridge that leads to an island one has a lovely view to the palaces water side and the old town.