When we arrived in Branitzer Park we were first welcomed by his heir, Count Pückler, who came all the way from Hamburg to greet our group in the Willkommen in Berlin (Antiques, Palaces and Gardens). He told us all about how his family lost their land, but later on were allowed to by back a piece of the land so that they could build a small cottage near the Schloss or Palace. He was very charming and was nice enough to let us take a photo with him.

Hermann Prince von Pückler-Muskau (1785–1871) was one of Europe’s greatest garden artists, a dandy, a womaniser, a successful travel book author, good company and an enthusiast of fancy food who gave his name for an ice cream. [read more]

Then we went on a tour of the Schloss which was set up in such an interesting way. They styled Fürst or Prince Pückler’s belongings in a way that looks as if he had just stepped out of the room. I loved how organic and authentic it felt; It gave us a very realistic look into the lifestyle of a prince in a time that is long gone. I took so many photos but I couldn’t share them all. Don’t you think the rooms are utterly decadent and fabulous?

An antique copying machine

His bedroom and the bed he died in. Creepy but fascinating at the same time. 

What a lovely view from his toilet, but I cannot imagine not having running water and only relying on a pitcher of water and basin to freshen up!

His music room was a crazy gold and mint concoction, adorned with gold musical instruments. Doesn’t it make you think of a frothy pandan cake?

This was his room dedicated to the exotic East. The colours were so bold and striking with different patterns on each wall, ceiling and furnishing. I am in love with the heater – white and gold my favourites!

The other rooms were just as extraordinary and pretty. 

We walked through his lovely gardens to find a beautiful restaurant inside a greenhouse. The natural light was beautiful and I learned that the special was a cake similar to the ice cream flavour named after Prince Pückler, the Fürst-Pückler-Eis or Neopolitan Ice Cream.

His  name (Fürst Pückler) is still remembered in German cookery through a sweet called Fürst-Pückler-Eis (Prince Pückler ice-cream), very similar to Neapolitan ice cream – not invented by him, but named in his honour by the Royal Prussian court cook Louis Ferdinand Jungius in 1839. [read more]

After lunch we went on a gondola ride – an amazing way to behold the English style landscape gardens that Fürst Pückler designed.

It was a bit exciting going under the bridges because there were some bridges that were so low, that we all had to duck inside the gondola so as not to hit our heads. 

The dashing gondolier was very good and kept us all safe and bump free during the ride. 

The highlight of the gondola ride was seeing the sand pyramid that Fürst Pückler designed. According to his wishes, he was buried inside the pyramid in the center of the manmade lake he designed.

You can see more of the photos I took of Prince Pücklers Park and Palace here.

During my stay in Berlin I am so thankful that I have the chance to visit so many European museums, palaces, gardens, etc. It is so inspiring to see how people lived in different times and I admire the lengths they go to restore and preserve these treasures of world heritage.

I hope you enjoyed looking at the photos, as much as I enjoyed taking them. I would love to hear from you in the comments section below. 

Branitzer Park und Schloss

Kastanienallee, 03042 Cottbus, Germany map
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