Friedrichstadt-Palast

The Friedrichstadt-Palast, also shortened to Palast Berlin, is a revue theatre in the Berlin district of Mitte at Friedrichstraße. The term Friedrichstadt-Palast refers both to the building as well as the institution and its ensemble. The present building is distinct from its predecessor, the Old Friedrichstadt-Palast (former Grosses Schauspielhaus), which was located near Schiffbauerdamm and demolished in 1985. To distinguish it from its aforementioned predecessor, the building is also commonly known as Neuer Friedrichstadt-Palast (New Friedrichstadt-Palast).

History

Beginnings

The history of the Friedrichstadt-Palast goes back to an earlier market hall, which is about 200 meters southwest of present-day location between the Bertolt-Brecht-Platz and the road was at the circus, official address was in 1867 at the 1st Circus.

The building was built from 1865 to 1867 on behalf of the Berlin real estate stock company under the plans of the Privy building advice of Friedrich Hitzig. This was under the direction of the architect who built Lent and on 29 September 1867, Berlin's first market hall was opened. The building was 84 meters long and 64 meters wide. Just seven months after its opening, 18 April 1868, for economic reasons, which arose from the bad traffic situation at that time, it closed. The building was empty at first and was later used as a food depot. During the German-Prussian War of 1870–71 the Prussian Army command sent in the construction of a replenishment arsenal. After the war the hall was again unused.