The Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin, Germany

We had another half day in Berlin before we had to be back at the airport for our bus ride north to the area around Templin. We had arrived and bought our 72 hour family unlimited bus/subway/train ride ticket (known as the Welcome Card) at 2:30 on Tuesday and had to be back at the airport at 2:30 on Friday...it would work out perfectly for us to take a few hours and see the largest palace in Berlin, the Charlottenburg!

Riding the bus over to the Charlottenburg Palace.

The walk up to the palace.

The entrance to the palace. In many ways, we all commented on how it reminded us of Versailles outside of Paris, France.

Family picture before entering.

We're right on time...they open at 10 am!

I think I might have taken pictures of many of the portraits, but I'll just give you a taste of a few of them here.

And a few more...but, seriously, the whole palace was covered in famous paintings.

One of the long hallways. There were many of these to admire.

The lady that the palace was named for, Sophie Charlotte, the wife of Friedrich III (King Friedrich I.) Unfortunately, she died just a couple of years after they moved in and made it home.

Lots of connecting rooms down long hallways.

Friedrich I, King in Prussia

A room of mirrors and green velvet.

A large room that looks out onto the gardens. Lots of portraits here as well.

Indy and Sissi in the room overlooking the garden.

There are so many portraits of her around the palace, Sophie Charlotte.

Tapestries hung on the walls.

Ornate ceilings and wall decorations abound.

Even the doors are all hand carved with seals and family crests.

A regal place to sit and meet with someone.

The famous porcelain room. 

Porcelain everywhere, and a real deer coming out of a hunting painting on the ceiling.

The in house chapel and organ. Impressive!

More views of a very decorative chapel.

Some of the ceilings show signs of the damage that happened from the bombings during WWII. I am amazed at how much was destroyed and then reconstructed over the years.

A famous painting of a young David with his slingshot.

Another grand meeting hall. I can just imagine a gathering or party or ball being held here.

One of our favorite gilded rooms. 

Krypto asked to have his picture taken here.

One of my favorite rooms. I really liked the colors used here.

And also in this room, the wallpaper is all original.

Krypto loves old grandfather clocks.

Frederick the Great's library. Many of the books are from the Potsdam Palace because the ones in the Charlottenburg were destroyed in WWII, but since he duplicated his library so he wouldn't have to travel back and forth with books, they are probably all volumes that would have been present here during his time.

More tapestries.

Napoleon!

And, the first ever war game. Yes, my boys were thrilled to see this!

As we left to catch the bus back to our hotel for a late lunch and our luggage, we noticed the Kyrgyz Embassy...just next door to the palace. Great location!

Visiting Wittenberg 500 Years Later

The year 2017 was a big one in Reformation History...on 31 October 1517 Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on the doors of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Since we already had a reason to be in Berlin for a conference, and Wittenberg is just a 40 minute train ride away, we couldn't let the year slip by us and not get in a visit!

We rode the train into Wittenberg and the station is on the far east side of the town. As we walked west through town, one of the first places we saw was where Martin Luther burned the papal bull that gave him 120 days to recant his heretical propositions.

A drawing on part of what was the old town wall.

We just missed this concert...would have been great!

Walking down one of the main streets toward the Castle Church.

We've arrived! The Castle Church is right behind us now.

The archway/door where Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses. The original doors burned down 250 years ago, but they were replaced with metal doors and the 95 Theses are cast onto the doors for you to read.

In the Visitors Center is a computer showing a historical timeline and also asking where you are visiting from...technically, we are Americans, from the United States...

But, we were also visiting from Kyrgyzstan!

Walking into the Castle Church.

The view to the front of the Castle Church in Wittenberg.

A memorial to Martin Luther, he is also buried in this church.

Looking up, the ceiling art is beautiful.

The organ at the back of the church.

Emily and I taking our obligatory "usie."

Family picture at the altar in the Schlosskirche in Wittenberg, Germany

Family picture time in front of the door of the Castle Church.

Group picture!

This is the City Church in Wittenberg, where Martin Luther actually preached on a more regular basis. It is in the middle of town, by the market square.

A closer view of the altar. I was amazed at all of the Moravian stars that we saw in the churches and individual homes around town. We live in Winston Salem, NC when we are back in the US and have a large Moravian presence there as well.

The organ in the back of the City Church in Wittenberg.

Indy, finding the Luther Rose all around town.

A visit to Martin Luther's house, where he lived with his family and housed many, many students during his day.

We were able to visit Wittenberg with some fellow Tapestry of Grace friends that drove 3 hours to meet us, just for the day! We all loved it and the kids became fast friends!

In the dining room of Martin Luther's house, where many a theological discussion took place. Many of these discussions were later published in a book, "Luther's Table Talk."

Again, looking up at the ceilings...I love to do that, they used to take such time and care on what we today would consider such a little detail.

One of the original copies of Luther's translation of the Bible into German.

One of the original copies of "A Mighty Fortress is our God." 

Friends taking a break in the Luther House.

The amount of original copies of pamphlets, responses, hymnals, seals, and even scrolls, etc. that the Luther House houses makes for a large Reformation era library. Someone coming to do a dissertation would be highly impressed.

The sun broke through on what was otherwise a rather hazy day.

The outside of Martin Luther's house...even in his day, it was one of the largest in town, housing many students and guests all year round.

Next, we went up the street to Philip Melanchthon's house. Another Reformation theologian, author of the Augsburg Confession, and friend of Martin Luther. They had several "hands on" activities for the kids, including some clothes to try on.

The inside of his house. All of his furnaces were made of green marble. He also housed students from the local University, where he taught, but never as many as Martin Luther.

Another collection of original writings and manuscripts.

The famous painting that was harmed during WWII and with some faithful restoration work, you can barely tell what parts were torn out and later restored and which parts are original.

The kids, pretending to be reformers in Wittenberg.

The Christmas tree in the entry way of the Brauhaus, where our friends were staying and where we ate dinner...traditional German fare like bratwurst and schnitzel!

Meeting with friends and family is always the best. SO thankful they were willing to drive 3+ hours each way to come and visit with us. We got along and connected with each other so quickly.

Switching out the camera!

Me with my friend, Emily.

Dinner....schnitzel!