Today Potsdam is one of the main tourist centers of Germany, where wealthy people from around the world come to relax, enjoy the first-class service and explore the local historical and cultural attractions.
Top 10 Sights of Potsdam
The beautiful Potsdam in Germany was built on the site of a fishing village. As an urban settlement, it was first mentioned in chronicles in the mid-14th century. In the second half of the 17th century, Potsdam became a summer residence where the Prussian kings and their families vacationed.
We offer you a brief description of the sights of Potsdam and its surroundings with photos and names and strongly recommend you to visit this wonderful city as soon as possible. What is there to see in Potsdam?
Brandenburg Palace
This palace was built in the mid-18th century, and very soon became a favorite resting place for Frederick the Great and his family. Here he postponed all his state and political affairs, so that no one would bother him.
The Sans Souci Palace is relatively small, one-story, with huge window openings. It is surrounded by terraces, which are simply twined with grapes. The main room of the palace is the marble hall. It is all stacked with sculptures in the ancient Greek style.
An old windmill
This mill was erected in the late 18th century, and for more than a century was used for its functional purpose. It is now a historical and cultural monument, one of Potsdam’s favorite landmarks.
The mill was burned to the ground by Allied bombing during World War II. At the end of the last century it was completely reconstructed. Today, on its three floors is a permanent exhibition of the Museum of Mills.
New Palace
This palace was built in the second half of the 18th century, it was the residence of the Electors of Prussia. Externally the palace was built in the Baroque style, while the interiors are decorated in the Rococo style.
The splendor of the halls of the New Palace against the background of the interiors of Sans Souci simply screams of the wealth of the Prussian state. After all, palaces have different functions. This one was intended for solemn receptions of foreign embassies and ceremonies.
Bornstedt Royal Estate
This estate is located near San Susi. During its existence, it has had different functions: at one time it was a large brewery, then a summer residence of the Great Elector, and later a crafts court.
Today the estate houses a large museum, where you can learn how to make the oldest beer in Prussia, with various crafts of this German land: pottery, candle making, baking bread, etc.
Cecilienhof Castle
This castle was built in the English style during World War I. These are several beautiful, interconnected half-timbered buildings. The castle was intended for Prince William and his wife Cecilia.
But it got its world fame in connection with the Potsdam Conference, which was held there after the surrender of Nazi Germany. Here the fate of postwar Germany was decided. In the courtyard there is a flowerbed with a red star.
Babelsberg Park
This is a large expanse of forest located on the banks of the river Hafel on the outskirts of Potsdam, from where you can see the local bridge and lakes. The area of this park is almost 125 hectares. There are several complex hydraulic structures here.
At the back of the park you can see another landmark – a palace built in the neo-Gothic style. The idea of its construction came to Cicilia’s mind, since. she had always dreamed of a beautiful English country house.
Biosphere
This famous artificial park is a must-see in Potsdam. In front of us is a tropical jungle created in a large area in the pavilion. The air temperature here fluctuates around +28C both day and night.
In the Biosphere grow coconut palms, orchids of extraordinary beauty, fluttering tropical butterflies of amazing colors, live real birds of paradise and narcissistic parrots.
In the enclosures here you can observe the life of tropical snakes and spiders. Some of them are poisonous, so be careful. Every hour in the Biosphere there is a tropical downpour with thunder and lightning. Everything is as close to the real tropics as possible.
Dutch Quarter
This quarter began to be built in the middle of the 18th century. More than 130 houses were built according to the designs of the then famous architect Bowman in the fashionable baroque. Dutch artisans were supposed to arrive in Prussia.
Apparently they didn’t like it in Germany, and most of the artisans went home. And Potsdam’s merchants and bohemians settled in the block. Today it is still a bohemian place, tourists love to come here in the evening for shopping.
Aleksandrovka
This village near Potsdam, built by the Germans in the early 19th century in honor of the Russian Tsar Alexander I, must visit our tourists. It used to be the home of the Russian choir singers.
A few years ago, Aleksandrovka was included in the famous UNESCO list. Today, only one Russian family lives here, and there is a museum, all the exhibits of which are devoted to the history of this village. There is a restaurant with authentic Russian cuisine.
Peacock Island
This wonderful nature reserve is located a few kilometers from Potsdam on a small island on the river Hafel. To get to it, you have to take a ferry ride. The peacock nursery in this pristine area was established at the end of the 18th century.
A couple of years later, Friedrich Wilhelm II ordered a palace to be built on this island for his beloved Wilhelmina. Therefore, not only fans of peacocks, but also connoisseurs of fine architecture will like it here.
Video overview of the sights of Potsdam
And in Potsdam you will see the beauty of German palaces and parks, you can swim in the many lakes. You will be offered to take a ride on the most beautiful routes on the white motorboats, explore the countryside delights, etc.
