Pfaueninsel - An Island Paradise in the Middle of Europe
Not many people would look for
an island paradise in the middle of Europe unless, of course, they were familiar
with the geography of Berlin. In the lower reaches of the Havel is just such a
place, Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island). Once a resort of the Hohenzollern family,
the island is now open to the public as a city park. Its history begins in 1665
when the Great Elector assigned the "Pfauwerder" to chemist Johan
Kunckel so that he might erect a crystal-glass works there. Kunckel succeeded in
producing the much-sought-after ruby glass, but soon fell into disfavor and his
secret laboratory was burnt to the ground in 1689. After use as a farm in the
18th century it aroused the interest of Friedrich Wilhelm II, whose formal
summer residence was the Marble Palace at Potsdam, and he had built in 1792 on
the island-in the form of a ruin-a county seat for himself and his wife. The
islands original name, Kaninchenwerder, was bestowed upon it because of the
large number of rabbits that at one time overran it. Although legend has it that
friedrich introduced the rabbits to the island in an attempt to provide hunting,
the rabbits came to the island long before his time by crossing the winter's
ice. But Friedrich did import the peacocks that give the island its name today.
However, Friedrich II did not live to see the completion of his plans. It was
Friedrich Wilhelm III and his Queen, Luise, who created the quiet summer
residence. The building was constructed in the custom of the time, in the form
of a 15th century ruin. Placed between the towers of a bridge to nowhere, the
castle is an ever pleasing tourist attraction. Aside from the peacocks, other
animals were introduced until the island took on the appearance of a zoo.
Finally, the menagerie reached such a state that all but the wild beasts that
inhabited the island or migrated to and from the mainland over the winter's ice
were used to start the original Berlin Zoo. But the peacocks were destined to
return. The birds were placed in the Potsdam castle gardens, but became to noisy
for the neighbors. Rather that destroy the creatures, they were exiled to the
island where they multiplied into a large community which finally led to the
renaming of the island. The castle park was laid out by Lenne who furbished it
with rare trees and shrubs. This was the basis of the park as it exists today.
From the ferry house you go past the Castellan's House-erected in 1795-to reach
the end of the island, where stands the Schweizerhaus or Swiss Cottage, built in
1825. On the west shore of the island, near the site of the once-famous
Palmhouse which burned down in 1880, is Jacob's fountain in the form of a ruin,
with Corinthian entablature. In the center of the island lies the Guest House.
The House was enlarged in 1826 and incorporates the front of a gothic house from
Danzig. The stables on the island were built on 1802 as cow stalls and, oddly
enough, in the form of a chapel. On the east shore of the island stands the
Memorial Temple for Queen Luise. It has the original sandstone facade from the
Charlottenburg mausoleum with a bust of the queen. Returning to the Ferry House
the path passes the site of Kunckel's labaratory, the Aviary and the Winter
House for Exotic Birds. Near the Ferry is the Frigate Shed which was built in
1832 to house the British-made frigate "Royal Louise". The island is
one of the most popular picnic and strolling areas in Berlin. As many as 3,000
visitors journey to the island on a busy day. It is easily reached by ferry boat
which departs from Pfaueninsel Chaussee.