Bellevue Palace
The official residence of Federal President Joachim Gauck opens up to citizens.
New Year receptions or visits by dignitaries from abroad – this is the usual agenda at the official seat of a head of state. And in most cases the public is excluded. Things are very much the same at Bellevue Palace in Berlin, where Federal President Joachim Gauck is head of the household. But because a lot of people would like to have a glimpse behind the scenes, the palace gates open occasionally for citizens to enter, for instance, on Open Day, on International Volunteer Day and for the annual Citizens Festival. At the latter the Federal President emphasises the importance of voluntary commitment, and each summer he invites people who have involved themselves in a special way. On the following day, anyone who is interested can visit the festival and join in guided tours of the palace and its grounds. In each of the years 2012 and 2013, around 36,000 visitors took up this offer. After all, Bellevue Palace is also of architectural and historical interest. It was built in 1785 for Prince August Ferdinand of Prussia. The royal summer residence is regarded as Prussia’s first classicist building. The palace’s name of Bellevue is attributed to the stunning views of the surrounding landscaped park and gardens as well as of Charlottenburg and the River Spree.
In the residential wing of the White House: “Please do not disturb!”
But the heads of state in other countries also have beautiful seats of residence, and they put them on view. The Élysée Palace in Paris is open once a year to the general public. The visitors can tour the splendid salons each year on the third weekend in September as part of the European Heritage Days. In contrast, the official home of the British Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street is open to the public within the framework of Open House London. During this event owners invite the public inside the walls of around 800 private buildings. The White House in Washington, a power centre since the year 1800, the seat of the American President and a great tourist attraction, has traditionally been a house with an open-door policy: people from around the globe, about 6,000 per day, visit the White House from Tuesday to Saturday. But the rule for residential wing of the world’s most powerful man is: “Please do not disturb!”
Citizens Festival at Bellevue Palace on 5 and 6 September 2014
