Potsdam is the capital of the federal state called Brandenburg. This small town of 170,000 inhabitants is located 20 kilometres from Berlin, the capital of Germany. Potsdam is a popular tourist destination, as most of its territory is green areas. The city was formed on the banks of a river, and it has many lakes. Its main attraction is Sans Souci. It is a beautiful man-made park with many "royal" buildings, including the palace of Frederick II.
Description of the attraction
Sans Souci is a picturesque attraction, one of the most beautiful places in the country. Like Versailles, it is accessible to tourists. It is a pleasure to walk here. On an area of 290 hectares spreads the royal park with hills and plains, reservoirs and a river.
The name "Sans Souci" in French means "without fancy", carefree and happy life. This is exactly how King Frederick II of Prussia envisioned his life. For two decades, the monarch organised the space around him in such a way that he could spend his time here carefree.
Construction work began in 1745. The park flourished and grew under the king's careful guidance for another two decades. Later Friedrich Wilhelm IV invested a lot of effort in the improvement: the reconstruction of the castle and the construction of new buildings took several more decades (1825-1860).
As a result of these efforts, the Sans Souci complex was transformed into a unique ensemble, the main attraction of Germany, which has been called "the most remarkable creation of the garden art".
In some ways, the project is similar to the palace of King Jeongjo - Hwaseong Haenggung in South Korea is a complex of 22 buildings with a landscaped area around them. But more often the Sans Souci ensemble is compared to the French Versailles.
Since 1990, the park complex has been inscribed as an outstanding example of 18th century architecture on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Numerous articles in prestigious art magazines describe the uniqueness of the ensemble, and many favourable reviews have been written about the park in Potsdam.
Grape Terraces
Photo: filin127. Source: Pixabay
Brandenburg had been making wine for centuries when the Prussian king looked for a summer residence. The monarch liked the vacant land on the slope of the Hafel River. Frederick II was the first to decorate the Brandenburg expanse. And he started with vineyards.
By order of the monarch, terraces were built on the hills in 1744. Glazed niches were built between them. The structure was decorated with large pots. The terraces were planted with vines of the best varieties of France, Italy, Portugal, as well as local ones. In the niches, figs were planted. And orange trees began to grow in pots. The outside of the terraces were decorated with sheared yew, fruit trees."
The centre of the hill was decorated with a wide staircase. A lawn was planted in front of the terraces. Later, a castle was built on top of the vine hill. A staircase of 132 steps leads to it. While the palace was being built (1745-1747), the territory around it was being ennobled. Here appeared a lot of fountains, decorative plantings, statues.
Fountain and sculptures
In the centre of the composition there is a large fountain. It releases a jet of water 38 metres high. You can enjoy the spectacle sitting on benches around the fountain, among sculptures of ancient gods - exact copies of the most famous works of J.B. Pigalle, a famous sculptor who worked in the neoclassical style.
Palace of the King
The hilltop castle was the first building in Sans Souci. It was erected over a period of two years according to the sketches of Frederick II. The project was carried out by the architect G.W. Knobelsdorf, who was in the service of the court."
His Majesty called the residence a "modest vineyard house": the future palace was conceived as a summer holiday home, where the monarch could read, admire his paintings, keep horses, dogs, enjoy a well-deserved respite from the affairs of state. In order to realise what he had in mind, Knobelsdorf proposed some ideas. If they did not coincide with his majesty's ideas, the monarch did not give his approval.
The building is designed in the Potsdam Rococo style, which was first realised in the architecture of Sans-Souci, and the architect G.W. Knobelsdorf is named as its founder. It was based on the canons of Germanic and Austrian Baroque, the dominant style in Europe in the 18th century.
The King's Palace in Potsdam is a long one-storey building: an oval hall in the centre, flanked by two long annexes with many adjoining rooms (along the entire perimeter). Inside the royal residence is luxuriously decorated: many mirrors and paintings, vegetal ornaments, gilded and light colours. In the central hall are beautiful statues symbolising science in all its manifestations. On the ceiling of the hall, in the roof-dome, a round window is carved - a sham to the famous Roman Pantheon. In one of the rooms there is a library. Its walls are decorated with carved gilded panels. In another - a concert room with many paintings and statues, where nowadays art exhibitions are held.
The central part of the building is crowned by a green dome with the inscription Sans Souci engraved on the vault. The façade of the building is decorated with numerous huge glass doors, vases, pilasters (they look like columns) and 36 sculptures by F.C. Glumet, a hereditary sculptor. The marble statues depict the priestesses of the god of winemaking (Bacchae) and the god Bacchus himself.
In 1747, the summer residence of the king was inaugurated, although not all the rooms were ready. After all the works were completed, the garden was decorated: flowerbeds, orchards and lawns were planted.
At first his majesty really came to the residence only for the summer, but then moved to live in his castle on top of the hill. This is also where he was buried.
Years later, already after the death of Frederick II, the castle was occupied by Frederick William IV. He put a lot of effort into renovating the long-empty palace. And during the years of his reign (1840-1860), he greatly increased the area of Sans-Souci in Potsdam.
In 1927, a museum was opened in the "wine house". Access to the castle was granted to anyone who wished to enter. It became the first palace-museum in Germany.
Park
Photo: scholty1970. Source: Pixabay
There were still vacant lands around the vineyard hill. By order of the king, they were added to Sans Souci and a beautiful Baroque garden was laid out.
The king's order was to add them to Sans Souci and to create a beautiful Baroque garden.
The first thing to be laid through the garden was a central avenue about 2 kilometres long. Numerous paths lead from the alley to different corners of the garden. The entrance was decorated with sculptures of goddesses, classical ancient Greek columns and an obelisk (stone pillar) with Egyptian hieroglyphics carved on it. At the other entrance to the avenue, a "New Palace" was erected, which served as a guest house. In different corners of the garden appeared interesting buildings: "Neptune's Grotto", "Picture Gallery", etc.
After the death of Frederick II, new territories were added to the garden, where they laid out the Northern and Sicilian parks (on the north side of the central avenue), English (at the Charlottenhof Palace). The Marly Garden, which already existed, was also added. These gardens were designed in different styles, symbolising different stages in the development of landscape art - classicism, open landscape park and regular (geometrically correct layout). New buildings were also erected here: a castle, baths, orangery, church.
New palace and other buildings
Photo: scholty1970. Source: Pixabay
The second castle on the ennobled grounds was built in 1769 to honour the end of the Seven Years' War. It was erected to symbolise the power and wealth of Prussia. It is a long 3-storey building. Its facade is richly decorated: sculptures, pilasters (these are protrusions similar to columns), massive gates - pylons. The king's guests stayed here and official receptions were held. In the southern wing of the building is arranged room for the theatre.
The first buildings
The monarch planned to erect many decorative structures and buildings. He managed to realise several projects.
Neptune's Grotto
The decorative structure is located near the entrance to the central avenue, at the foot of the hill. The structure was erected in 1751-1757. It is decorated in the Baroque style: it is decorated with sculptures of the goddess of water springs and the king of the seas (from Greek mythology). The grotto is decorated with a cascading waterfall.
Picture Gallery
Prussia's first museum building was erected between 1755 and 1765. It is located to the right of the royal residence and is a pavilion with an exhibition of paintings. Here you can find works of art by famous Baroque (XVII-XVIII centuries) and Renaissance (XVI century) artists. The gallery is still functioning today, and concerts are also held in the building.
New Chambers
On the other side of the king's residence are the New Chambers. The structure was designed as a greenhouse for exotic plants, but eventually turned into a residential building for court guests. It is a pompous one-storey building. In one of the halls of the "chambers" today operates an exhibition of porcelain.
Tea House
Photo: Sinousxl. Source: Pixabay
"Chinese Tea House" (1766) is decorated in oriental style, as evidenced by the bright colour combinations. Against the background of other buildings it is perceived as an exotic structure: it is made in the form of a clover leaf, with a hipped dome and gilded decoration of the facade. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Europe. There are three rooms inside, with open verandas between them. This "tea" house still houses Chinese and Japanese porcelain collections.
Friendship Temple and Ancient Temple
In memory of his favourite sister, Frederick II ordered the construction of the "Temple of Friendship". The small open structure was erected near the main avenue, on the east side of the "New Palace". "Temple of Friendship" appeared almost together with the "Antique Temple" (1769). These two buildings were paired rotundas - similar structures on either side of the central avenue. The latter is like a miniature copy of the Roman Pantheon. During Frederick the Great's lifetime it housed a collection of coins and antique art objects (gems), but in 1830 it was moved to Berlin. Much later, after the fall of the monarchy in Germany, the temple became a burial vault for members of the Hohenzollern imperial family. "Temple of Friendship" is built in the Greek style: eight supporting columns and a massive dome on top. The structure symbolises the loyalty of the two halves.
Belvedere - observation deck
Belvedere is a decorative two-storey structure with a viewing platform and terraces. It was built in the northern part of the park, on the Klausberg mountain, in 1770-1772. The Belvedere offers a beautiful panorama of Potsdam. The observation structure is richly decorated inside. Marble in white and grey shades contrasts with red jasper. The ceiling is painted: the sky with clouds and birds. The building is furnished with gilded and carved chairs.
House with Dragons
Between 1770 and 1772, a Chinese-style dwelling for local winemakers called the House with Dragons was built on the southern slope of the Klausberg mountain. The four-storey structure is crowned by concave roofs, with 16 dragon images at its corners. Frederick II built the building after being inspired by the Chinese Tea House. Since 1934, the House with Dragons has been a restaurant.
"New" buildings (1825-1860)
Frederick II died in 1786. Until 1840 the royal residence was empty and the park was falling into disrepair. With the accession of Frederick William IV to the throne, everything changed.
Charlottenhof
Photo: travelspot. Source: Pixabay
In 1825, the future king received from his father a gift of land south of Sans-Souci called "Charlottenhof" and an estate of the same name. Being in love with the "German Versailles", the crown prince ordered the reconstruction of the manor and the improvement of the grounds.
On the old foundations, the architects built a classical palace for the prince - elegant but austere, similar to a Roman villa (especially one of the halls, called "marching", it is decorated like a tent of Roman commanders). After all the works, in 1829, Friedrich Wilhelm IV moved into Charlottenhof Castle. Guests of honour, such as the explorer A. Humboldt, who arrived at the palace at the prince's invitation, stayed in the "marching hall".
The palace park was organised in the English style - trees, meadows and water (from the local river - Hafel) were at the centre. The architect who worked on the project (Schinkel) successfully combined the renovated Charlottenhof with the existing Sans Souci.
Later, in the 19th and 20th centuries, steam plants were built near an artificial reservoir to supply water to the park buildings. At the beginning of the XX century, they were demolished for lack of use. But the "Machine Pond" remained.
Roman Baths
Schinkel continued to create on the expanse of Sans Souci: in 1829-1840 he built the "Roman Baths" in the antique style.
They were distinguished by a unique interior illustrating the dwelling of ancient Pompeii. The interior space is richly decorated with sculptures and paintings. The furniture is also selected in the appropriate Pompeian style. Daylight enters the rooms through the glass ceiling - this technique was an innovation in European architecture, but later, in the XX century, spread everywhere.
Somewhere inside the "Roman Baths" is a picturesque garden. The structure was erected on the banks of an artificially created lake.
Greenhouse Palace
Photo: scholty1970. Source: Pixabay
Upon ascending the throne, the new king ordered the restoration of the "vineyard house" and the tidying up of the park. But having moved into the palace from Charlottenhof, Friedrich Wilhelm IV did not stop there. During his reign, 1840-1861, Sans Souci was considerably enlarged: neighbouring lands were added to its area, and new extraordinary constructions appeared among the greenery and flowerbeds.
By decree of the king, a guest house called the "Orangery Palace" was built especially for the Romanovs, namely for his sister Charlotte and her husband, Tsar Nicholas I, between 1851 and 1864. The building was decorated in the likeness of an Italian Renaissance mansion. In one of the halls, an exhibition of works by Rafael Santi was organised - the room was decorated with 47 copies of paintings by the famous Italian painter. In other halls a "winter garden" for tropical plants was organised. In the central part was placed the royal couple.
Marley's Garden and its Lutheran church
Thanks to Friedrich Wilhelm IV, the nearby Marli Garden was ennobled in 1845 and on its grounds the Lutheran church "Friedenskirche", built according to the early medieval Romanesque canons, was erected on the king's orders. It is decorated with a mosaic of the XIII century, bought at an auction. Later, a tomb for the royal family was built near the Friedenskirche.
Visiting the landmark
The German Versailles in Potsdam is open to everyone. It can also be visited in winter (November to March), during these months it is open until 16.30-17.00 (the last visitor can enter no later than 16.30, all must leave by 17.00). In summer (April to October), the palace museum is open until 17.30-18.00.
In the "winter" season does not work "Chinese House", "Picture Gallery", "New Chambers", "Orangerie", "Belvedere". But in the warm season you can fully enjoy the picturesque vegetation.
The day off is Monday. Tuesday is a day for group tours.
Entry to the most famous park in Germany is free. But fees are charged for visits to the palaces and exhibitions. The cost of a "combined" ticket is 22 euros (in a day one person can go round everything for one price). For families with no more than 4 children - 49 euros. Children under 7 years old go free of charge. Tickets can be purchased at the Sans Souci ticket office, where you will be given a free map-plan in Russian. If you want to take a photo of the interiors, you need to pay an extra 3 euros.
When buying a ticket, pay attention to the time of entry to the palace of the king. If you miss the time, you will not be able to enter later.
If you miss the time, you will not be able to enter later.
For sightseeing it is desirable to allocate at least 2 days, it is impossible to go round everything in one day. Take time to walk along the park alleys (day 1) and to see the castles (day 2).
How to get there
The famous park and the palace of the same name are located in the city of Potsdam, federal state of Brandenburg in Germany. From Berlin you can get to Park Sanssouci station by train from "Central Station", you need suburban trains RB 21 and 22.
If you are already in Potsdam, you can get to Sanssouci by buses 605, 606, 610, 695 (stop of the same name), trams 91 and 94 (stops "Luisenplatz", "Charlottenhof").
