Just to the west of central Berlin, the district of Charlottenburg is home to some of the city's best known attractions. Home to the Charlottenburg Palace and the Bahnhof Zoo, a hotel in Charlottenburg puts you right in one of the most popular parts of this fascinating city. The district was its own city, named after Queen consort Sophia Charlotte, until it merged with Berlin in 1920. It is a charming and historic part of the city, dating back more than 300 years. It started out as farmsteads, and began to grow into the city it is today as early as the 1200s. It was named after the wife of Frederick I because she was given this region in 1695. The Charlotteburg Palace was built for her. Today, the Palace is a must-see, along with the number of world class museums that surround the Palace grounds. Charlottenburg has some of the best shopping in Berlin, and some of the most expensive real estate in the city. There is also a large Russian population here, and some fantastic Russian shops and restaurants. A Berlin hotel in Charlottenburg also puts you close to the Tiergarten Park and the river Spree.