Russian Colony Alexandrowka

Frederick William III and the Russian Tsar Alexander I were close friends. To express this friendship and honor the deceased Tsar, Frederick commissioned the construction of the Russian Colony Alexandrowka in 1826. The wooden houses, built in the Russian style, were home to Russian singers who remained at the royal court as a gift from the Tsar after returning from the war. The gardens were designed by Peter Joseph Lenné to provide the singers with a special atmosphere for music and leisure. Today, the ensemble is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The buildings were constructed in 1826 as a Prussian interpretation of a drawing by the Italian-Russian architect Carlo Rossi. The buildings of the colony are constructed in a mock log style, as half-timbered houses with projecting semicircular wooden posts, following Russian models. The wooden houses are adorned with elaborate decorations and carvings.
The gardens of Alexandrowka were designed by Peter Joseph Lenné. They have the basic shape of a hippodrome with an inlaid St. Andrew's cross.
Each farmstead is surrounded by a large garden where plenty of fruit and vegetables can be grown.

House number 2 contains a small museum. Visitors can look into the kitchen and living room and get a sense of the simple living conditions of that time. Documents are on display that attest to the close ties – including familial ones – between the Prussian and Russian ruling houses.

Note: The museum and café will be closed from November 1st, 2024 to March 31st, 2025.