The Empress’s Art Collection After seemingly endless 30 years of waiting for the throne and only 99 days in office which were overshadowed by the Emperor’s terminal illness, Vicky retreated to the Taunus close to Frankfurt. Politically disillusioned, she had been driven out of Berlin by her son and had taken to call herself „Empress Frederick” in memory of her deceased husband. In the Taunus she created her widow’s retreat, Friedrichshof Castle in Kronberg, which was designed to house her large art collection. The impressive castle and the extensive English-style park around it, has become a lasting memorial to the Empress. Friedrichshof is the last large castle built by the Prussian ruling House apart from Cecilienhof Castle in Potsdam.