Museum
CastlePotsdam
Babelsberg Castle
In Potsdam, Brandenburg, stands Babelsberg Palace, an edifice in the English Gothic style. For over five decades, it served as the summer residence for Prince Wilhelm, who later became Emperor Wilhelm I, and his consort Augusta. The palace is a place of historical significance, as it was here in 1862 that the crucial conversation between King Wilhelm I and Bismarck took place, leading to Bismarck's appointment as Prime Minister.
History+
The construction of Babelsberg Palace occurred in two phases between 1835 and 1849. The original plans were by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Ludwig Persius, and Johann Heinrich Strack. Prince Wilhelm desired his own summer palace, and in 1833, King Friedrich Wilhelm III approved the construction. Schinkel began planning that same year, based on designs by Persius from 1831. Princess Augusta, who had a preference for the English Gothic style, influenced the design, leading to disagreements with the architects, particularly regarding the interior decoration. The first construction phase, completed in 1835, encompassed the smaller part of the palace. After Wilhelm's appointment as heir to the throne in 1840, the palace was deemed too small, and the second construction phase began to realize the overall design. After Schinkel's death in 1841, Persius took over, but also had to yield to Augusta's wishes.
Source: Wikipedia · Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 · Image: Joachim Schneeleopard
This description draws on the facts documented in the linked Wikipedia article; Wikipedia content is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wording and editing: Mobile History.
Location: 52.4076, 13.0933