Charlottenburg Palace (Schloss Charlottenburg) today is the largest residence of the Hohenzollern in Berlin. Originally built by Elector Frederick III as a summer residence for his wife Sophie Charlotte in 1699, the palace was later extended into a stately building with a cours d'honneur. The magnificent palace is surrounded by a baroque garden, in which diverse architectures melt into a unique ensemble. The entire palace presents itself with majestically equipped rooms and saloons and with top-class art collections that offer outstanding masterpieces: For example, one of the largest collections of French paintings of the 18th century outside of France. The ensemble of rooms and saloons – artistically as well as historically impressive – is a living testimonial of courtly culture and life from baroque times until the early 20th century.