Location: Berlin - Charlottenburg; Chateau Charlottenburg Hi Renderosians, this here is a real highlight in Berlin, a real chateau, and this not far away in the middle of the city! Once, this means 1696, the electress and later first preussian queen Sophie Charlotte of Hannover owned the little village Lietzow and some land around, 7 kilometers from Berlin. Here she gave order to the architect Johann Arnold Nehring to construct a little chateau, the chateau "Lietzow" or "Luetzen". Sophie Charlotte was a good looking young lady and was well educated; she owned a big library and spent the summertimes here. The people of Lietzow were very happy about Sophie Charlotte and gave their village the name "Charlottenburg" and named the chateau in the same manner. Over the centuries the little chateau (without tower) grew up to a great baroque building with a baroque garden behind, planned after the garden of Versailles. Sophie Charlotte is buried in a mausoleum in the park; she is very beloved and popular till today. In front of the chateau is a memorial of Sophie Charlottes husband, the "Great Elector" Friedrich III. of Hohenzollern, who crowned himself as "Friedrich I. King in Preussen", the first preussian king. This chateau is a landmark in Berlin tourism, it is guesthouse of the Senate of Berlin, our government, and is the place where the powerfull and nobles of our days have their dinner, when they visit us.... This pic here was taken in 2009; the 2010 decoration was not so well as the older one. Hope you enjoy it. Thanks for your fine comments for my older pics. Please feel free to send new ones, both directions, they are all welcome.... Taken 23. October 2009, used a tripod and my wife`s big camera