Bellevue Palace, Presidential palace in Tiergarten, Germany
Bellevue Palace is a long, pale yellow three-wing neoclassical building on the north edge of the Großer Tiergarten, by the Spree. Its projecting central section carries a triangular pediment with sandstone relief figures of agriculture, hunting and fishing, added in 1790, and gilded letters reading "Bellevue". The central entrance with a wooden door and balcony is reached by a stone staircase; the two-storey side wings, the Ladies' wing and the Spree wing, enclose a cour d'honneur.
The palace was built in 1786 for Prince Augustus Ferdinand of Prussia as a private summer residence and is considered the first neoclassical building in Germany. After World War II it was reconstructed and has served as the official seat of the Federal President since 1994.
The name Bellevue means "beautiful view" and originally referred to the outlook over the Spree and the surrounding gardens. Today the building serves as the official residence of the Federal President, where state guests are received and important ceremonies are held.
The palace can only be visited through guided tours that are offered occasionally and must be booked in advance. The park surrounding it is publicly accessible and allows a view of the facade and the maintained gardens.
During World War II local residents buried military statues on the palace grounds, which were rediscovered only in 1993 during construction work. The bronze figures had lain unnoticed underground for almost 50 years.
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