It all started in 1751

A building with a great history

The Palais am Festungsgraben was constructed between 1751 and 1753 by Christian Friedrich Feldmann for the royal chamberlain Johann Gottfried Donner and was originally named "Palais Donner". Precisely 110 years later, in 1863, the palais was extended by several representative rooms. This also included the Marmorsaal with its magnificent ceiling paintings and marble columns.

In 1787, the palais was sold to the royal tax office and served as the office for the Ministry of Finance, and subsequently as the residence of the Baron von und zum Stein.

Finally, in 1945, the Soviet military administration rebuilt the destroyed building amidst the expanse of ruins at "Unter den Linden" as the "House of Culture of the Soviet Union".

Today, the Palais am Festungsgraben is a place of culture. The distinct, mostly historical rooms are used for special and multifunctional events, weddings, concerts, conferences, readings, film shots etc.