BERLIN PALACE
The Berlin Palace (Schloss) was the city’s most important historic building and one of Europe’s most spectacular Baroque palaces. It was badly damaged in World War II but could have been restored. Instead, the East German communists demolished it in 1950, an act of unprecedented vandalism. Recently, the exterior of the Baroque palace (dating back to 1698-1716) was reconstructed following the original plans (until 1950, the ‘Schloss’ included a few wings from the Renaissance and even late-Gothic period, but these were replaced by modern buildings). In addition to the Baroque palace, the neo-classical dome, originally built in the mid-19th Century, was also reconstructed. Special features of the Palace are the eleven monumental portals.
The video includes a few images of the nearby Arsenal (Zeughaus), which was built simultaneously with the Palace (1695-1706). It was restored until 1967 after being damaged during the War. According to architect K. F. Schinkel (1781-1841), the Palace and the Arsenal were the only two characteristic classical buildings in Berlin that showed greatness.
Music:
'Everything has a Beginning' by Joel Cummins
(Youtube Audio Library)
