Berlin – Around Town : Potsdam & Sanssouci (part 1)

Schloss Sanssouci

The
Prussian King Frederick the Great wished to live “sanssouci”, in a
palace outside the boundaries of the hated city – the French phrase
means “without worries”. In 1745, Frederick commissioned his favourite
architect Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff to plan and construct this
magnificent Rococo palace according to his own designs.

The
main building with its yellow façade rises proudly above the former
terraced vineyards, leading up to the domed building and its elegant
marble hall at the centre of the palace complex. In both its design and
shape, the marble hall pays homage to the Pantheon in Rome. To its left
and right are some very attractive rooms designed by von Knobelsdorff
and Johann August Nahl; these include the famous concert room, adorned
with paintings by Antoine Pesne, and Frederick’s library. In this wing,
the monarch liked to play the flute or to philosophize with Voltaire.
Valuable paintings by Frederick the Great’s favourite painter, the
French artist Antoine Watteau, adorn the palace walls.

• Maulbeerallee

• Apr–Oct: 10am–6pm Tue–Sun; Nov–Mar: 10am–5pm Tue–Sun

• guided tour obligatory

• 0331 969 41 90

• Admission charge

Neues Palais

To
the north of Sanssouci palace park rises the Baroque Neues Palais. One
of Germany’s most beautiful palaces, it was built in 1763–9 for
Frederick the Great according to designs by Johann Gottfried Büring,
Jean Laurent Le Geay and Carl von Gontard. The vast two-storey structure
comprises 200 rooms, including the Marmorsaal (marble hall), a lavishly
furnished ballroom, and the Schlosstheater, where plays are once more
performed today. Frederick’s private chambers are equally splendid,
especially his study furnished in Rococo style, the upper gallery with
valuable parquet flooring and the Oberes Vestibül, a room clad entirely
in marble.

• Am Neuen Palais

• Apr–Oct: 10am–6pm Wed–Mon

• audio guide available

• guided tour obligatory

• 0331 969 42 02

• Admission charge

Schlosspark Sanssouci

It
is easy to while away an entire day in the extensive palace park, which
covers 287 hectares (709 acres) of land. Of the many charming buildings
hidden in the lavishly designed landscape garden, the Rococo-style
Chinesische Haus, built in 1754–6 by Johann Gottfried Büring, is
especially worth seeking out.

Originally it served as a tea-house and dining room, and it now houses an exhibition of porcelain pieces from East Asia.

The Römische Bäder (Roman Baths), a group of pavilions next to the
lake, are also inspired by historic models. Modelled on an Italian
Renaissance villa, they were built between 1829 and 1840 by Friedrich
Karl Schinkel as guest and bathing houses.

The
Orangerie, constructed in 1851–60 by Friedrich August Stüler, was also
originally intended to accommodate the king’s guests. Today it houses a
small gallery of paintings.

Chinesische Haus

• Am Grüen Gitter

• mid-May–mid-Oct: 10am–6pm Tue–Sun

• 0331 969 42 25

Römische Bäder

• Lennéstr

• late-Apr–end-Oct: 10am–6pm Tue–Sun

• 0331 969 42 25

Orangerie

• Am der Orangerie 3–5

• May–Oct: 10am–5pm Tue–Sun

• 0331 969 42 80

Schloss Cecilienhof

This
little palace, built in the style of an English country manor house,
entered the history books in 1945, when Germany’s fate was sealed by the
Potsdam Conference. Built in 1914–17, the palace is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site and is now used as a hotel. It also houses a small
exhibition documenting the Conference and the palace’s furnishings.

• Im Neuen Garten

• Apr–Oct: 10am–6pm Tue–Sun; Nov–Mar: 10am–5pm Tue–Sun

• 0331 969 42 44

Schloss Charlottenhof

A
small Neo-Classical palace in Park Sanssouci, built in 1829 by Schinkel
for the heir to the throne, Friedrich Wilhelm IV. Particularly worth
seeing is the tent-like Humboldtsaal.

• Geschwister-Scholl-Str. 34a

• May–Oct: 10am–6pm Tue–Sun

• 0331 969 42 28

Marmorpalais

This
small, early Neo-Classical palace at the side of the lake was built in
1791–7 by Carl Gotthard Langhans and others. It features an elegant
concert hall as well as contemporary furniture and porcelain.

• Heiliger See (Neuer Garten)

• Apr–Oct: 10am–6pm Tue–Sun; Nov–Mar: 10am–5pm Sat, Sun

• 0331 969 42 46

Holländisches Viertel

A
pleasant way to explore the district of Potsdam is a walk through the
historic Old Town, with its art galleries, cafés and restaurants. Built
between 1733 and 1742, the area originally served as a settlement for
Dutch workers after whom it is now named. The small red-brick buildings
are decorated with attractive stucco ornaments.

• Friedrich-Ebert-, Kurfürsten-, Hebbel-, Gutenbergstr

Nikolaikirche

Potsdam’s
most attractive church was designed by Schinkel in 1830 in an early
Neo-Classical style. Its giant dome is particularly striking.

• Am Alten Markt

• 10am–5pm Mon–Sat; 11:30am–5pm Sun
  

• 0331 270 86 02

Marstall (Filmmuseum)

The
small museum, based in the Baroque former stable buildings of the
king’s town residence, uses old cameras, props and projectors to
document the history of German film.

• Breite Str. 1a

• 10am–6pm Mon–Sun

• 0331 27 18 10

Filmpark Babelsberg

The
Filmpark offers visitors a tour of the legendary UFA-Studios, which
were among the world’s most important when they operated here in
Babelsberg from 1917 to 1945. Exciting U-boat trips, stunt performances
and special effects are shown.

• Großbeerenstr

• Apr–Oct: 10am– 6pm daily

• 0331 721 27 50