Jagdschloss Grunewald in Berlin is a real surprise
Usually beautiful castles or palaces are located in or near a town. However
At the beginning of the 16th. century, Elector Joachim II Hector started to
there are some exceptions, inter alia the Jagdschloss Grunewald.
This hunting lodge, near the Grunewaldsee in Dahlem, Berlin, Germany
really is a royal surprise. It also has a very nice history.
Some royal history
At the beginning of the 16th. century, Elector Joachim II Hector started to
order the building of some hunting lodges in the Margraviate of
Brandenburg in the wooded and wild area around Alt-Berlin and Cölln.
For the construction of a hunting lodge in the forest area of the Teltower
Heide today's Grunewald, Elector Joachim II acquired from the noble
family of Spi(e)l a plot of land.
During the reign of Joachim II, Renaissance architecture also found its
way into the Margraviate of Brandenburg. He received inspiration for
the design of his buildings from his cousin the Saxon Elector
Johann Friederich I.
The actual master builder of the Grunewald Castle can not be clarified,
but it's posibble that Caspar Theiss was involved with the building works.
He had done lots of big projects for Joachim II, Elector of Brandenburg.
The hunting lodge Grunewald was in the time of Joachim II not only a
place of stay at hunting events lasting several days, but also two decades
a permanent residence of his mistress Anna Sydow.
After the death of Joachim II, Elector of Brandenburg, the Grunewald
Hunting lodge was neglected for many decades. Due to the repairs
carried out under the Great Elector Friedrich Wilhelm, the building
could be used again, however he had his own hunting lodge near
Potsdam.
In 1740 Frederick the Great came into the power, and the hunting lodge
finally lost its importance.
In the 1820's the interest in the Grunewald hunting grounds grew again.
Later State guests took part in it, such as Tsar Alexander II of Russia in
1864.
In January 1891 there was a big sex scandal in the Grunewald hunting
lodge. Then 15 ladies and gentlemen of the aristocratic court society
celebrated an orgy there and this became known nationwide.
During the Second World War, the hunting lodge survived the heavy
bombardments of Berlin unscathed. However some works of art and
paintings were missing after looting by members of the Soviet
occupying power.
On 16 May 1949, it became the first Berlin art museum to be open to
the public again.
Since 2011 after many years of renovation work, Berlin's largest
Cranach collection has been on display.
A visit
We visited the Grunewald and the Grunewald hunting lodge in 2014.
It was a real surprise to see a castle in the middle of a wood. Though,
I like quit places, this was a bit too relaxed. But, around the castle
there certainly is not mass tourism.
Source paintings: Wikipedia
pictures: taken in 2014
place of stay at hunting events lasting several days, but also two decades
a permanent residence of his mistress Anna Sydow.
After the death of Joachim II, Elector of Brandenburg, the Grunewald
Hunting lodge was neglected for many decades. Due to the repairs
carried out under the Great Elector Friedrich Wilhelm, the building
could be used again, however he had his own hunting lodge near
Potsdam.
In 1740 Frederick the Great came into the power, and the hunting lodge
finally lost its importance.
In the 1820's the interest in the Grunewald hunting grounds grew again.
Later State guests took part in it, such as Tsar Alexander II of Russia in
1864.
In January 1891 there was a big sex scandal in the Grunewald hunting
lodge. Then 15 ladies and gentlemen of the aristocratic court society
celebrated an orgy there and this became known nationwide.
During the Second World War, the hunting lodge survived the heavy
bombardments of Berlin unscathed. However some works of art and
paintings were missing after looting by members of the Soviet
occupying power.
On 16 May 1949, it became the first Berlin art museum to be open to
the public again.
Since 2011 after many years of renovation work, Berlin's largest
Cranach collection has been on display.
A visit
We visited the Grunewald and the Grunewald hunting lodge in 2014.
It was a real surprise to see a castle in the middle of a wood. Though,
I like quit places, this was a bit too relaxed. But, around the castle
there certainly is not mass tourism.
Source paintings: Wikipedia
pictures: taken in 2014
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