The Perfect Venue

About This Location

Nestled in the heart of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, one of Berlin's most vibrant districts with over 315,000 residents, Charlottenburg Palace stands as one of the city's premier tourist destinations. This baroque jewel offers an exceptional setting for a distinguished Christmas market, combining architectural grandeur with the strategic advantages of its City-West location.

For the first time in its remarkable 300-year history, Charlottenburg Palace welcomes visitors to this unique seasonal celebration. The event showcases elaborate decorations befitting the palace's historic character and refined atmosphere. With approximately 250 international vendors, the palace forecourts, honor courtyard, and select palace grounds transform into an extraordinary festive ensemble spanning 35 days.

Special features include exclusive evening openings of the palace, Biedermeier exhibitions, and festive displays. Traditional wooden stalls house themed market areas featuring exceptional handicrafts, time-honored artisan traditions, and upscale gastronomy ranging from regional specialties to gourmet offerings. Sophisticated lighting illuminates the buildings and park areas, complemented by period-appropriate attractions, themed pavilions, and a carefully curated program for families and children designed to capture widespread attention.

Against this historic backdrop and incomparable setting, the market presents a carefully selected array of goods, culinary delights, baroque ambiance, and cohesive visual presentation that delights visitors of all ages, establishing itself as an annual winter tradition.

The ambition is to distinguish this market through thoughtful design that sets it apart from other Berlin holiday markets, delivering an elegant experience that meets the expectations of discerning visitors. Renowned international lighting designer Andreas Boehlke, who previously illuminated the palace for the 300th anniversary celebration of Charlottenburg in summer 2005, creates stunning illuminations that bathe the palace in festive radiance. That earlier lighting spectacle attracted over 300,000 visitors in a single weekend.

The market benefits from collaboration with Berlin Tourism Marketing and their "Winter Magic" campaign, successfully promoting Berlin as a premier Christmas shopping destination. International guests have long recognized the special appeal of this constantly evolving city and particularly enjoy visiting during the holiday season.

This success owes much to numerous media partnerships that bring these events to international attention through extensive coverage beyond Berlin's borders.

Historical Background

Originally constructed between 1695 and 1699 as Lietzenburg, the palace was commissioned by Sophie Charlotte, wife of Elector Friedrich III, and designed by architect Johann Arnold Nering in the Italian Baroque style. Following Friedrich's coronation as King Friedrich I of Prussia and Sophie Charlotte as Queen in 1701, architect Eosander von Göthe transformed the original summer residence into a magnificent complex. After the Queen's death in 1705, the King renamed both the palace and the surrounding settlement Charlottenburg in her honor. Further expansion from 1709 to 1712 added the distinctive palace dome and orangery.

The beautifully landscaped palace gardens remain especially beloved, featuring lush green spaces and water features directly behind the palace. Originally designed as a French baroque garden by Simeon Godeau in the late 17th century, portions were later reimagined as an English landscape garden in the late 18th century. Until late 2005, Charlottenburg Palace temporarily served as the official residence of Federal President Horst Köhler during comprehensive technical renovations of Bellevue Palace.