The Belvedere in Charlottenburg’s Palace Gardens
Royal Porcelain
On the charming garden grounds at Charlottenburg Palace, on the banks of the Spree River, is a small garden palace, the Belvedere, constructed for King Frederick William II as his private sanctuary.
The pavilion featuring a lookout point and a stunning view – built in 1788 from plans by Carl Gotthard Langhans, the architect of the Brandenburg Gate – now houses the world’s largest collection of porcelain from the Königliches Porzellanmanufaktur Berlin (KPM). Frederick the Great established the manufactory in 1763.
Decimated in World War II, with only its exterior rebuilt to replace the original, the Belvedere, venue since 1972 for an exquisite exhibition offering diverse insights into the varied use of “white gold,” including delicate paintings of putti on porcelain tea and coffee services; commemorative cups marking the liberation from Napoleonic occupation; Rococo and Neoclassical table services; and elaborate and ornate vases with views of the royal palaces and gardens, invites visitors to make inspiring discoveries.
A compact guide to the palace gardens and their buildings may be ordered here.