Berlin’s Romantic Treasure: Peacock Island Castle to Reopen

One of Berlin’s most romantic landmarks is ready to welcome visitors once again. Starting Sunday, May 25, 2025, the charming white castle on Peacock Island (Pfaueninsel) was reopened after several years of renovation. Located on a small island in the River Havel, the site combines natural beauty, historical charm, and fairytale atmosphere.

The castle was built between 1794 and 1797 by order of King Frederick William II of Prussia as a secluded love retreat for his mistress, Wilhelmine Enke. Designed to resemble a ruined Roman villa, the small wooden palace became a symbol of romantic escape, surrounded by exotic gardens, fountains, and freely roaming peacocks — the birds that gave the island its name.

Over time, the island developed into a landscaped park and included a menagerie with rare animals, turning it into a peaceful getaway for the Prussian court. The entire site was later recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its cultural and historical significance.

The castle had been closed to the public since 2018 due to structural issues and the discovery of asbestos. In 2021, a full restoration project began, with €7.5 million allocated to secure the structure, restore its original wooden façade, and preserve the interior, including the exotic “Otaheiti Room,” inspired by South Sea islands.

Now, after years of careful work, the castle is ready to enchant visitors once more. As the writer Theodor Fontane once described it: “A castle, peacocks on high perches, fountains, shaded meadows, winding paths leading everywhere and nowhere...” Pfaueninsel continues to be one of Berlin’s most magical destinations — a place where history and nature blend in perfect harmony.

• https://www.visitberlin.de/es/pfaueninsel-und-schloss-pfaueninsel https://www.visitberlin.de/es/pfaueninsel-und-schloss-pfaueninsel
• https://www.museumsportal-berlin.de/es/museos/pfaueninsel-stiftung-preuische-schlosser-und-garten-berlin-brandenburg/#:~:text=En%201793%2C%20Federico%20Guillermo%20II,de%20visi%C3%B3n%20del%20Jard%C3%ADn%20Nuevo. https://www.museumsportal-berlin.de/es/museos/pfaueninsel-stiftung-preuische-schlosser-und-garten-berlin-brandenburg/#:~:text=En%201793%2C%20Federico%20Guillermo%20II,de%20visi%C3%B3n%20del%20Jard%C3%ADn%20Nuevo.