Peacock Island Castle Schloss Pfaueninsel
In 1793, Frederick William II "rediscovered" the Peacock Island in Berlin and had a half-timbered house built by a local craftsman for himself and Wilhelmine Encke, later Countess Lichtenau -- who is said to have sketched out the design herself. Frederick William III and his wife, Queen Luise, were fond of the house and used it as a summer residence. It was during this period that the peacocks from which the island takes its present name were introduced, and today there are sixty of the birds.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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The castle is designed to look like a romantic ruin or folly, with two towers linked by a footbridge (originally of wood, replaced in 1807 by an iron bridge - an early product of the Berlin iron-casting industry). The building was faced with concrete in 1909-11 and now houses a museum. The finely appointed interior bears witness to the quality of the craftsmen of Berlin and Potsdam at the end of the 18th C. Particularly notable are the Neo-Classical Grand Hall on the top floor and the spiral staircase.
Hours
April 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 12:30 | 12:30 | 12:30 | 12:30 | 12:30 | 12:30 | |
| Open | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | 13:30 | |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Facilities
Restaurant or food service