Location

Based in the middle of district Charlottenburg - Wilmersdorf which is one of the biggest parts of Berlin with 315,300 inhabitants, Schloss Charlottenburg demonstrates one of the main tourist attractions of Berlin.

The location of Schloss Charlottenburg offers not only an ideal place by his baroque scenery for a prominent Christmas fair, but also because of the central position of the city west.

In cooperation with the Foundation Prussian castles and gardens our market in winter 2007 will become a unique fair with a special selection of selling goods, baroque athmosphere, various traders and gastronomic specialities as well as it will remain as a remarkable and annual market for every kind of visitor.

In his more than 300-year-old history Schloss Charlottenburg presents itself as a host of this new Christmas fair for the first time! Based on the historical background and ambience the decoration will perfectly arrange alongside the the highest demands so far.

With approx. 250 international suppliers the upstream park areas together with the court and areas will be transformed for more than 30 days of the castle into a unique ensemble. Alongside the market special night opening of the Schloss Charlottenburg and special Biedermeier exhibitions, selected market areas will show crafts people showing their handicraft in front of a overwhelming baroque coulisse and selected gastronomic traders will offer their highly recommended food.

The costly light-illumination of the buildings and park areas integrates a historically seeming festival flair as well as subject tents and an special programs for families and children which all will arrange the biggest media interest.

Purpose is to differentiate the Christmas fair itself clearly from other markets by a selected creation in Berlin by satisfying a demanding audience with an elegant representation.

The castle will shine in ceremonious bright light, illuminated by the internationally known light designer Andreas Boehlke, as he already did at the jubilee celebration of 300 years district Charlottenburg in summer 2005. This "illuminated scenery" attracted more than 300,000 visitors on one single weekend.

Werbeteam berlin in collaboration with the Berlin Tourismus Marketing GmbH (BTM) and their campaign "winter magic" under the patronage of the mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit has successfully marked Berlin as a [Christmas] shopping metropolis. International guests have already recognised the special attraction of the constantly changing city and revisit this with constantly raising pleasure.

Finally this is also to be dued to our numerous media partners who announce our arrangements over the borders and report about this all over the world.

historical background

At the beginning the castle was established in the style of the Italian baroque under the name Lietzenburg between 1695 and 1699 by the architect Johann Arnold Nering by order of Sophie Charlotte, the wife of the elector Friedrich III. After the coronation of Friedrich to king Friedrich I of Prussia and Sophie Charlottes to the queen the castle which was originally conceived as a summer house was extended to a splendid arrangement by the architect Eosander von Göthe in 1701. After the death of his spouse in 1705 the king called the castle and the adjoining settlement "Charlottenburg" for her honour. From 1709 to 1712 another upgrade to the main castle took place where the distinctive dome and the old orangery where built.

Most popular is the very nice designed park with their green areas and water surfaces directly behind the castle. The castle park was created at the end of 17th century by Simeon Godeau as a French baroque garden. It was partially converted into an English scenery garden at the end of the 18th century.

Till the end of 2005 the castle Charlottenburg was temporarily an official residence of the German Federal President Horst Köhler, because the castle Bellevue was redeveloped with a technical complete overhaul.