Why visit potsdam

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If you are human, leave this field blank. Join us on social media. The square was largely destroyed during WW2 — the plan of rebuilding it to its former 18th century grandeur is still ongoing.

Some interesting buildings surrounding the square are St. Nicholas Church , rebuilt in , the Museum Barberini with an impressive modern art collection, and a Modernist East German building which formerly housing a vocational college, which is being torn down — sadly, may I add. All history is worth preserving. It was sadly empty when we were there, but it is filled with water once a year, in occasion of a canoe racing event.

In the midth century, Potsdam was a garrison town, and King Frederick William I ordered it to be extended, but there were few skilled workers. Weirdly enough, not many Dutch people ended up inhabiting the Quarter — it became the residence of an elite corps of the Prussian army, and of several artists before falling into disrepair during DDR times.

Nowadays, the houses have been restored and house cute boutiques, cafes and galleries. Dutch cultural festivals and events are also regularly organised, like the yearly Tulip Festival. All houses also have an internal courtyard, but those are reserved to residents — if you see front door left open, try to discreetly peek inside. Also worth checking out are the splendid New Rooms, or Neue Kammern.

Built in as an orangery and later converted into a gardener's house, its interior is richly decorated. A fun time to visit is during the popular Night of the Palaces. This unique two-day event is held in June and sees Sanssouci Palace and Park open to the pubic after dark.

Official site: www. Sanssouci Park. Sanssouci Park Sanssouci Park is the site of many beautiful gardens, buildings, and works of art. It's a pleasure to walk around, and makes a great starting place for a Potsdam cultural experience. The oldest part of the park dates back to and, along with its abundance of buildings and works of art, is considered the best example of Potsdam Rococo, reflecting as it does the influence of Frederick the Great. The park entrance lies at the east end of Hauptallee, the property's main avenue.

It's easy enough to find: just look for the tall obelisk near the main gate. Highlights include the lovely Neptune's Grotto, one of a series of roundels in the park, this one with the busts of four Moors, and the splendid Picture Gallery at the Orange Roundel with its many excellent 17th-century paintings, including works by Rubens, van Dyck, and Caravaggio.

Also worth seeing here is the Great Fountain with its representations of the four elements and of mythological figures. Accommodation: Where to Stay in Potsdam. The New Palace at Sanssouci. The New Palace, or Neues Palais, was built between in red brick relieved by sandstone, with a copper dome. The palace contains valuable furniture, pictures, porcelain, and works of art, and is best viewed as part of an extended guided tour available in English that visits the King's Apartment.

While walking around New Palace, head to its rear. Here, you'll find the Communs, or Domestic Offices, two brick buildings in Baroque style with columned porticoes and curving external staircases. Between the two buildings are Corinthian colonnades and a triumphal arch. One of the newest attractions in this extremely old city, Museum Barberini opened in on the Old Market Square site once occupied by the former Barberini Palace, destroyed during a WWII bombing raid.

Already regarded as one of the top art museums in Germany, the facility's bright, modern galleries are home to a large collection of works from the country's leading painters, stretching from the time of the Old Masters to contemporary art. Notable Impressionist artists whose work is featured include the likes of Monet and Rodin, as well as Edvard Munch. Regular temporary exhibits are also worth looking into and feature international collections of repute.

Daily English-language guided tours are available, as are audio-guides. There's also a shop and a restaurant located on-site weather permitting, opt for courtyard seating. The Old Town Hall. Now better known as a center for cultural events and activities, this splendid Baroque building was built in with three-quarter-length Corinthian columns and a tower with a stepped dome.

Be sure to look for the gilded figure of Atlas with the world on his back, the one original feature to survive the vagaries of weather and war. It's worth visiting for its fine collections related to local art, culture, and the city's 1,plus year history. The Old Town Hall is linked by an intervening wing to the Baroque Knobelsdorff-Haus dating from , also used for cultural programs.

Notable for its charming red brick houses graced by shuttered windows, gables, and white trim, the neighborhood was built between and by Dutch craftsmen. Today, this charming community is the largest collection of Dutch-style homes outside the Netherlands. Anticipate spending a few hours exploring the area on foot, especially if you take in Johann Boumann House , a museum dedicated to the architect who led this remarkable 18th-century building project.

An easy stroll leads to the Brandenburger Strasse pedestrian zone with its houses built between for the billeting of troops. Museum Schloss Cecilienhof, Neuer Garten. Now set up as a museum, the building is wonderfully preserved in the state it was in during the conference — including the main conference room itself — and many artifacts remain in place, along with displays detailing the event and its significance.

Other highlights include the obelisk in the courtyard and the property's lovely gardens.