Bookstore
Available as paperback
and as e-book.
Potsdam Attractions
A British air raid on April 14, 1945, destroyed much of the old city center, but the major attraction, Sanssouci Park and its palaces, survived.
Although your priority when visiting Potsdam will probably be Sanssouci, the city of Potsdam itself has many charming streets and historic areas and structures that you can explore before or after your visit to the palace and gardens.
12 Results
- Museum
Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall)
The Greco-Roman-inspired town hall beside the Nikolaikirche dates from the mid–18th century and has a noteworthy Corinthian colonnade. Perched on top of the cupola is the Greek Titan Atlas, bent under the weight of the Earth. The Altes Rathaus underwent a complete transformation and… - Museum
Bildergalerie (Picture Gallery)
Set on the eastern side of the palace grounds, this building was completed in 1763 and displays Frederick the Great’s collection of works from the Italian Renaissance and baroque eras. The building’s unassuming facade hides a sumptuous marble and gold interior with paintings by Peter… - Historic Site
Chinesische Teehaus (Chinese Teahouse)
This little gem of a rococo building in Sanssouci park resembles a Chinese pagoda. Ornamental “Oriental” buildings like this were all the rage in 18th-century Europe. The privileged classes would retire here to drink a new beverage called tea. This building is not open to the public. - Neighborhood
Holländisches Viertel (Dutch Quarter)
Centered around Am Bassin and Benkerstrasse, the picturesque Dutch Quarter is named after the Dutch craftsmen who came to Potsdam in the mid–18th century at the invitation of “Soldier King” Frederick Wilhelm I. As you wander the cobbled lanes past gabled houses, look for Am Bassin… - Park/Garden
Neuer Garten
On Heiliger See (Holy Lake), in the northern part of Potsdam, lies the Neuer Garten. The nephew and successor to Friedrich the Great, Friedrich Wilhelm II, had these gardens laid out. Set between the park and the palace, this lovely baroque garden is well maintained, and it's a… - Historic Site
Neues Palais (New Palace)
The largest building in Sanssouci park was completed in 1769 and used by the Hohenzollern royal family. Inside you can see rococo rooms filled with paintings and antiques. - Religious Site
Nikolaikirche
Rising above Potsdam’s cobblestoned marketplace square, this mighty neoclassical church, completed in 1837 and inspired by Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, is the handiwork of the prolific 19th-century German architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel (1781–1841), whose buildings are also found… - Museum
Orangerie
The mid-19th-century Orangerie, west of the palace, contains copies of paintings by Raphael and features ornately decorated salons. - Landmark
Sanssouci Palace
One of the greatest and most beautiful examples of European rococo, Sanssouci was built between 1745 and 1747 as Frederick’s summerhouse, a place where he could let his wig down, discuss weighty matters with French philosopher Voltaire, and make music with composer Carl Philip… - Historic Site
Schloss Cecilienhof (Cecilienhof Palace)
Built to look like an English country manor, this palace was a royal residence from 1917 until 1945. At the end of World War II, the palace was used as headquarters for the Potsdam Conference attended by the heads of the Allied powers, including U.S. President Harry Truman, British… - Landmark
Schloss Charlottenhof
This palace was built between 1826 and 1829 by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Germany's greatest master of neoclassical architecture. He also designed most of the furniture inside. The nearby Roman Baths are on the north of the artificial lake known as Maschinenteich (Machine Pond). These… - Historic Site
Schloss Sanssouci
One of the greatest and most beautiful examples of European rococo, Sanssouci was built between 1745 and 1747 as Frederick’s summerhouse, a place where he could let his wig down, discuss weighty matters with French philosopher Voltaire, and make music with composer Carl Philip…
