Prussian and Hohenzollern Palaces, Castles and other Royal Residences

[Marengo]

In this thread we can discuss the various palaces and castles of the Hohenzollern family. As a start here the link to Burg Hohenzollern:

Preussen.de - Burg Hohenzollern

From this wikipedia article:

Burg Hohenzollern is a castle, about 50 km south of Stuttgart, Germany, considered home to the Hohenzollern family that came to power during the Middle Ages and ruled Prussia and Brandenburg until the end of World War I.
The castle is located on top of Mount Hohenzollern at an elevation of 855 meters, above Hechingen in the Swabian Alb. It was originally constructed in the first part of the 11th century. It was completely destroyed after a 10-month siege in 1423 by the imperial cities of Swabia.
A second, larger and sturdier castle was constructed from 1454 to 1461 and served as a refuge for the Swabian Hohenzollern family during wartime, including during the Thirty Years' War. By the end of the 18th century, however, the castle was thought to have lost its strategic importance and gradually fell into disrepair, leading to the demolition of several dilapidated buildings. Today, only the chapel remains from the medieval castle.
The third version of the castle, which stands today, was constructed by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV between 1846 and 1867, under the direction of Oberhofbaurat Stühler, who based his design on English Neo-Gothic style as well as the castles in Loire. Because the castle was built to be merely a family memorial, no member of the Hohenzollern family took residence in this third castle until 1945, when it became home to the last Prussian Crown Prince Wilhelm. Prince Wilhelm and his wife Crown Princess Cecilie are buried there.
Among the historical artifacts of Prussian history contained in the castle today are the Crown of Wilhelm II and some of the personal effects of Frederick the Great and a letter from US President George Washington thanking Baron von Steuben, a scion of the House of Hohenzollern, for his service in the American Revolutionary War. The castle is today a popular tourist destination.

And some Pictures:

View from te sky

Some towers

Some nice details

Another view from the sky

Sideview

Link with some more pictures, here.

[Marengo]

A youtube clip shows Burg Hohenzollern and its magnificent view:

YouTube - Burg Hohenzollern

[cvxmelody]

Here's a new German TV documentary on the Berlin City Palace (Stadtschloss), a 500 year-old royal palace located in the historic heart of Berlin, and bombed to ruins during WWII. The site was later occupied by the East German Palace of the Republic which was recently razed to make way for the reconstruction of the royal palace, a massive and costly project. Includes rare colour footage of the Hohenzollern imperial family at the beginning of the 20th Century, an exploration of the tunnels under the palace site, etc..

Part 1:-

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q57WjWrz6Ko

Part 2:-

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jek7oI5JNJU

Part 3:-

http://youtube.com/watch?v=52DIppOtU-I

[MAfan]

Does someone have plans or photos of Babelsberg Castle in Potsdam? thanks

[Avicenna]

Originally Posted by MAfan

Does someone have plans or photos of Babelsberg Castle in Potsdam? thanks

Here you go - the English version
Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten | SPSG | Schloss Babelsberg

For a position plan please see the links on the right side.

[Harold]

Three questions, sort of related.

If I recall correctly, Schloss Monbijou in Berlin housed the Hohenzollern Museum until it was destroyed in World War II. I have heard that Georg Friedrich wants to reestablish the Hohenzollern Museum in a wing of Schloss Charlottenburg. Is this correct? If so is it a done deal or is he simply asking the Prussian State Palaces agency to consider doing so?

Also, when he moved the Hohenzollern Family business administration to Berlin from Bremen, did it move into one of the palaces in Potsdam? I read something somewhere that gave me that impression.

Finally, why did Georg Friedrich's grandfather settle in Bremen? Just a place to go or did the family have some connection there? In Bremen, did they have a villa or just a regular house?

Thanks.

[hrhcp]

Originally Posted by Marengo

In this thread we can discuss the various palaces and castles of the Hohenzollern family.

Burg Hohenzollern...

I've been there. Its conveniently located near Tuebingen, which itself is just south (sort of) from Stuttgart. T. is a 700 year old city, and a very old university town too boot.

[Warren]

Here is a great picture of the seat of the Hohenzollerns showing its commanding position, from Wiki..

Burg Hohenzollern
¤

[Hanna Regina]

There was a large palace in the centre of Potsdam called the Stadtschloss Potsdam, but it was ruined in the war, just like the Berliner Schloss. I belive the site of the old palace is still empty, no marching square there!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...m%C3%A4lde.jpg

[MAfan]

The Berliner Schloss was destroyed by DDR government, because it was a symbol of the monarchy. It will be rebuilted, when German Government will find the money to do it.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by MAfan

The Berliner Schloss was destroyed by DDR government, because it was a symbol of the monarchy. It will be rebuilted, when German Government will find the money to do it.

That is the City Palace in Berlin. Now the have finally removed the Palast der Republik which was build by the DDr-Government. The facades of the Berline Place will be rebuild in the next years and it will the be the Humboldt-Forum.
See here: Stadtschloss Berlin Initiative | Wir bauen das Schloss

However the Palace Hanna Regina is talking is the City Palace in Piotsdam which was also destroyed by the Government. It is at the Moment rebuild and will then be the used as Landtag (Parliament) of Brandenburg.

Here you can find more Information in german:
Verein Potsdamer Stadtschloss e.V.

[AGRBear]

My friend known as remmick, who has given me the opportunity to help with her vast number of web sites, has a great site about German-Russians who migrated from Germany in the late 1700s to the Volga and then in the early 1800s to the Black Sea area, and other areas. Since our roots are in Germany, she and I have traveled in Germany and have taken many photos. Remmick has posted some great photos of the Hohenzollern castle as well as maps

PagePhotoIndex.html

Map showing various castles: PageGerCastles1.html

Reading German history can be confusing. Remmick has a list of the various German states which were part of what was known as the Holy Roman Empire and with it are brief bits of history of areas you have read and maybe didn't know where they were or the history behind each area:
http://www.remmick.org/Remmick.Germa...Page5.html#Map

von Hohenzollern's official site:
Preussen.de - Gallery of Palaces

We hope you enjoy them.

[Marengo]

Does anybody know which palaces the Preussen family still owns? Just Burg Hohenzollern (partly as the catholic Hohenzollerns own a part of it too)? I believe they tried to get Cecilienhof back, but the court ruled against it (why I don;t understand). I believe the late prince Louis Ferdinand had a house at the Unter den Linden in Berlin and a villa near Bremen, are they now owned by his grandson Gerog-Friedrich?

Thanks in advance.

[Stefan]

The late Prince Louis FErdinand had a Villa in West-Berlin which he build some time in the 50's or 60's. Don't knoe to whom she belongs now but as far as i know it belongs to the Family. After 1990 the wanted the Palais Unter den Linden (where Wilhelm I. lived) back but they didn't get it. I think the Wümmehof still belongs to the Family. There was also antoerh House in Bremen where Prince Louis ferdinand jr. lieved during his marriage and Princess Donata lived also there until her remarriage.

[Odette]

Does anyone know why in the Burg Hohenzollern there are three chapels? A Catholic, a Lutheran and an Orthodox one? What is the denomination the Hohenzollerns belong to?

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by Odette

Does anyone know why in the Burg Hohenzollern there are three chapels? A Catholic, a Lutheran and an Orthodox one? What is the denomination the Hohenzollerns belong to?

The Royal Family of Prussia belongs to the protestant faith and the Princely Family of Hohenzollen who also owns 1/3 of the Castle is catholic. Therefore the 2 Chapels. The third Chapel is a russian-orthodox Chapel under the protestant Chapel. In the protestant chapel the Coffing of the King Friedrich II. and Friedrich Wilhelm I. where placed until 1991.

[Odette]

Originally Posted by Stefan

The Royal Family of Prussia belongs to the protestant faith and the Princely Family of Hoheznzolen who also iown 1/3 of the Castle is cathiolic. Therefore the 2 Chapels. The third Chapel is a russian-orthodox Chapel under the protestant Chapel. In the protestant chapel the Coffing of the King Friedrich II. and Friedrich Wilhelm I. where placed until 1991.

Thank you Stefan for the information. I was wondering about it and you made it clear.

[Harold]

Does anyone have any photos of and / or information on the current Hohenzollern properties in Bremen and Berlin? After the war did the family settle in Bremen just because it was convenient or did the family have a connection to that city?

[Capt. Snowbear]

Here is a picture...my father took it flying in an F-100 over Germany with an RAF guy around 1980...I am wondering which Castle it might be?

[Warren]

It is Burg Hohenzollern (see previous posts for pics).