Pfaueninsel, Protected island in Wannsee, Germany.
Pfaueninsel is a protected island in Wannsee that forms part of a World Heritage Site and includes a white palace with two towers, ancient oak trees, and gardens along the Havel River shore. The island covers 67 hectares (165 acres) and combines meadows, tree clusters, and waterside promenades into a single park.
Friedrich Wilhelm II acquired the island in 1793 and had the palace built the following year to create a retreat for summer stays. Before that, the site served as a warren for rabbit breeding until it was transformed into a royal landscape park.
The name comes from the peacocks that the king introduced to the grounds and still roam freely across the lawns today. Visitors encounter these birds throughout the park, often near the old trees or along the paths leading to the water.
A ferry brings visitors from the shore to the island, which opens from 10 AM to 4 PM during winter months and from 10 AM to 6 PM in summer. The paths run mostly over level ground that is easy to explore on foot.
In the late 17th century, the alchemist Johann Kunckel ran a secret laboratory here, whose experiments sparked rumors of witchcraft among local residents. His attempts to produce ruby glass later contributed to the development of new glass techniques.
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