Schloßparksiedlung Tegel

Nestled amidst ancient forests and meadows lies Schloss Tegel, also known as Humboldtschloss. This grand estate, with its rich history and captivating stories, awaits your exploration. Schloss Tegel’s story begins long before the Humboldt brothers, as far back as 1558 when it served as a manor house. Later, it became a hunting lodge for the Elector of Brandenburg. The Humboldt family acquired the estate in 1766. It became their family seat, shaping the lives of two extraordinary brothers: Wilhelm and Alexander von Humboldt. Wilhelm, the philosopher, linguist, and founder of Berlin’s first university, and Alexander, the naturalist, explorer, and geographer, spent their childhood at Schloss Tegel. The estate fostered their intellectual curiosity and love for nature. After their mother’s death, Wilhelm inherited the estate and, with architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel, transformed the Renaissance structure into the neoclassical masterpiece you see today. Schinkel’s touch is evident throughout, from the grand facade to the serene family cemetery in the park. In 1829, he also designed the poignant tomb for Wilhelm’s wife, Caroline. Atop a granite column, stands a statue of Spes, the Roman goddess of hope, a symbol of Caroline’s enduring spirit. Both Wilhelm and Alexander rest nearby, alongside generations of Humboldts, beneath simple, unadorned tombstones. Venture further into the park, and you’ll encounter “Dicke Marie” (Fat Mary), Berlin’s oldest tree, a massive oak named by the young Humboldts after their beloved cook. The estate offers a glimpse into the Humboldts’ world. The interior, though devoid of original paintings lost during wartime, remains largely furnished as it was in Wilhelm and Caroline’s time. Imagine Wilhelm, surrounded by Roman and Greek statues and reliefs, discussing philosophy and linguistics. Picture Alexander, pouring over maps and specimens, dreaming of his next expedition. Schloss Tegel is more than just a building. It’s a living testament to a family’s legacy, a place where history and nature intertwine.