Altes Palais

The Altes Palais is a neoclassical city palace that sits gracefully along Unter den Linden with a symmetrical sandstone facade. The building spans two main floors plus a mezzanine level, decorated with pilasters, capitals, and terracotta friezes that showcase the classical style of its era.

The building was constructed between 1834 and 1837 to replace an earlier palace from 1690 that belonged to the Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt. It became a key symbol of Prussian government authority during the 19th century and played an important role in the political life of the capital.

The palace was the residence of Prussian royalty and hosted important state ceremonies and receptions that shaped Berlin's political life. Its neoclassical design with columns and terracotta decorations reflects the power and prestige that Prussia wanted to display to the city.

The palace is located on one of Berlin's most famous streets and is easy to reach when exploring the historic center. Visitors should know that buildings along this street stand very close together, which sometimes makes it difficult to see structures from a distance.

The palace survived World War II bombardments with relatively minor damage, making it one of the few larger structures from that era to retain its original sandstone. A complete facade restoration in the 1960s restored the building to its classical appearance.

Location: Bezirk Mitte von Berlin

Inception: 1837

Architects: Carl Ferdinand Langhans

Architectural style: Neoclassical architecture

Address: Unter den Linden

GPS coordinates: 52.51690,13.39280

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:43