Alte Kommandantur

The building's origins date back to the 17th century. Around 1653, the fortress builder Johann Gregor Memhardt erected a two-story residential house on this site, the first stone building in the new Friedrichswerder district. After it fell into disrepair, a representative new building was constructed in 1795/96, initially serving as a private palace. From 1799, it became the seat of the commander of the Berlin garrison. A significant renovation took place in 1873/74, adding another floor and redesigning the facade in the style of early Florentine Renaissance. During World War II, the Kommandantur was severely damaged and demolished in the 1950s. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Bertelsmann AG and the Bertelsmann Foundation acquired the property and, between 1999 and 2003, had the building reconstructed as an almost exact replica of the historical facade, under strict conditions imposed by the Berlin Senate.

The Alte Kommandantur is located in Berlin-Mitte, in the federal state of Berlin, Germany. The building is situated at an elevation of approx. 35 m above sea level.

Today, the Alte Kommandantur houses the headquarters of the Bertelsmann Foundation. The building features a meticulously reconstructed historical facade, while its interior is designed to be modern and functional.

• Kronprinzenpalais (Residence), approx. 0.1 km away
• Prinzessinnenpalais (Residence), approx. 0.1 km away
• Palais am Festungsgraben (Residence), approx. 0.2 km away
• Berliner Stadtschloss (Castle), approx. 0.2 km away