Built for a Prussian prince, Schloss Bellevue was a German architectural first. Today it is the official residence of the German president.
Situated on an area of twenty hectares (about 50 acres) beside the River Spree, Schloss Bellevue ("Belle vue" meaning beautiful view in French) was built for Prince August Ferdinand of Prussia, the younger brother of King Frederick II of Prussia. It sits on the north edge of the large Tiergarten park and served as the Prince's summer residence.From its construction in 1786 until 1918, Schloss Bellevue served as a royal residence. After the First World War it served a number of purposes, including space for an ethnology museum and as a "guest house" for the Third Reich.