The Prussian Palace Kingdom

The Palaces of Parks of Potsdam, Germany

Not too far from the German capital, Berlin, the Prussian kingdom embarked on the biggest legacy project of its reign. Over two centuries, Potsdam was transformed into one of the greatest collection of palaces and gardens in the world.

Perhaps it wasn’t a conscious decision to great such a compound of lasting grandeur, though. At the time, it was about an odd mix of expressing power and creating a personal sanctuary. It started with King Frederick II in the middle of the 18^th century who wanted a palace to rival Versailles. He built Sanssouci, which is still today the highlight of Potsdam. In reality, it’s a mere summer villa compared to the French palace it was based on – the name, meaning ‘no worries’ show that it was more about relaxation than statesmanship. But its intricate design in the Rococo style and the heavily-landscaped approach to it show the importance placed on the site as a symbol of the leadership.

Frederick II built a larger palace twenty years later called New Palace which, from appearances, is much more the style of building you would expect from a major European leader. It is three stories high with large and long wings on each side. A central dome gives the building even more height. Inside are majestic interiors including the Marble Hall and a Palace Theatre.

New Palace was used only occasionally for official events and for hosting dignitaries. The king preferred to spend his time at the more relaxed Sanssouci where he entertained close friends and looked after his beloved greyhounds. While Frederick II was a mighty military ruler and enthusiastic patron of the arts, it seems that, on a personal level, he preferred a more private life. Potsdam was his refuge.

For almost than 200 years – until 1916 – the enormous Potsdam estate grew. Successive leaders built more palaces in the area and each tried to add their own mark and create something suitable spectacular. While nothing ever rivalled the size of the New Palace (and arguably the beauty of Sanssouci), they all add together today to create a small garden kingdom.

Visiting the Palaces and Parks of Potsdam

More than two million people a year visit Potsdam but, luckily, there’s enough to see that it doesn’t feel too crowded. The whole area is about 500 hectares large and it’s possible to walk through the parks and the gardens and see the exteriors of the buildings for free.

You need to buy a ticket to go inside most of the palaces. Because Sanssouci is so popular, you’ll be allocated a timeslot for a tour. It’s better to get to the site early if you are short of time, otherwise you may miss out.

Aside from Sanssouci and New Palace, the highlights are the Orangery Palace, Charlottenhof Palace, and the New Chambers. It can easily take all day to see them properly and also stroll through the gardens. As Potsdam is just a short train trip from Berlin, my recommendation would be to allow the whole day to explore.

All the things you need to know

This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For more info click here. You can see all the UNESCO World Heritage Sites I’ve visited here.

Time Travel Turtle was supported by DB Bahn, the German National Tourist Board and Youth Hostels in Germany but the opinions, over-written descriptions and bad jokes are his own.