- The last renovation works are underway
At the popular pleasure palace on Pfauen Island, beloved by tourists and Berliners alike, the final renovation works are underway ahead of the planned reopening** in May. "Work is proceeding as planned," said a spokesperson for the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation Berlin-Brandenburg. Currently, the masonry base is being dried out. It will be sealed both inside and out to prevent moisture from entering.
Wooden cladding renewed
Then, specialists still need to carry out restoration work in the rooms themselves. Presumably, in the fall, the furnishings will return to the castle - including 225 objects such as furniture, paintings, and sculptures. Gardening work is also underway.
The small wooden castle in the southwest of Berlin was closed in August 2018 due to extensive defects. According to the spokesperson, the main issue was addressing moisture damage. This included renewing the entire wooden cladding and repairing the bridge between the two towers.
Reopening planned for May
The total cost of the renovation is approximately 7.5 million euros, according to the spokesperson. In May 2025, the foundation plans to reopen the castle to visitors.
Pfauen Island Castle was built between 1794 and 1795 by the Potsdam joiner Johann Gottlieb Brendel for King Friedrich Wilhelm II (1786-1797) and his close confidante Wilhelmine Rietz, later Countess Lichtenau (1753-1820), as a rural retreat. It remained so for the successors as an exotic summer residence, even palm trees were brought to Pfauen Island.
According to the foundation, the exterior of the building is modeled on a Roman country house, imagined as a ruinous castle. Inside, there are lavishly decorated rooms in contemporary style.
The restoration work on the wooden cladding is a significant part of the renovation of The architecture at Pfauen Island Castle. Once completed, visitors can once again marvel at the intricate details of the restored furnishings, including 225 objects such as paintings, sculptures, and furniture.
