Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam

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• View of the "Great Fountain" in Sanssouci Park.

• Visitors inside Sanssouci Palace

• Marmorsaal (Marble Hall)

• Bildergalerie (Picture Gallery) in Sanssouci Park

• Sanssouci Palace - Orangery

• Performers from "Höfische Gesellschaft" stroll through the park of Sanssouci Palace during the Potsdam Palace Night.

Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam near Berlin is a must-see for tourists. The pleasure palace of Frederick the Great features beautiful Rococo-style architecture and a magnificent palace garden.

A visit to Schloss Sanssouci (Sanssouci Palace) in the Brandenburg state capital of Potsdam is on the agenda of many tourists. Sanssouci, which translates as "without worries", was penned by Frederick the Great, who had a pleasure palace built here, far away from the stresses and strains of governing. King Frederick II (1712-86) himself is said to have begun the design for Sanssouci Palace on a sheet of paper with a blot of ink. King George commissioned the architect Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff to turn it into reality.

First the vineyard, then the castle

Construction of the famous palace began on April 14, 1745. One year before construction began, Frederick II, known as Frederick the Great, had six wine terraces laid out on the southern slope, which could be reached via a large flight of steps. Construction of the palace on the hill then began.

A palace for the carefree

Thanks to its location and the combination of architecture and garden art, Sanssouci excellently conveys the rococo lifestyle. "Sans Souci" - the battle-hardened king wanted to rest here without worries, free from the burden of government business. The motto can be read on the dome in the central part of the palace.

The rear of the palace is less playful. This is where the main entrance is located, which was used for official representation. Together with the Ehrenhof (courtyard of honor), which is framed by Corinthian columns, a dignified entrance for official guests was created here. The entrance hall of the palace also remains representative and rather austere with additional columns.

The Marmorsaal (Marble Hall) adjoins the entrance hall. It was used as a banqueting hall and has an oval basic shape. There is a light opening in the ceiling of the Marble Hall, which is modeled on the Pantheon in Rome. The marble columns and the ceiling, richly decorated with gilded stucco and emblems, are also impressive.

Private quarters in Sanssouci Palace

To the east of the Marble Hall was the king's private apartment, which consisted of an audience and dining room, a concert hall and a bedroom and study. There was also a library and a gallery in the private chambers.

To the west of the Marble Hall are five individual guest rooms. None of these were intended for Frederick II's wife Queen Elisabeth Christine. Most of the rooms had direct access to the beautiful gardens. It was only later, in 1841, that the two side wings of the palace behind the arcades were extended.

Exemplary for the Rococo

Rather small compared to other palaces, Sanssouci Palace impresses with its Rococo splendor. With the exception of the Marble Hall and the king's study, the rooms of the palace were artistically decorated under the direction of the brothers Johann Christian and Johann Michael Hoppenhaupt.

The theme of nature is continued in the interior with tendrils, flowers, birds and fruit. The motif of the rocaille, a C-shaped shell, can be found throughout the palace. It is particularly beautiful in the Konzertsaal (concert hall). The filigree, gilded ceiling and the paintings by court painter Antoine Pesne further enhance the concert hall.

Concert hall and library

The concert hall was one of the most important rooms in the palace, as the king himself was a passionate musician. He spent several hours a day playing the flute. He composed 120 sonatas for his instrument himself, which he presented to a select audience in concerts. The king's library was less ornate. It contained over 2000 books in French, Frederick II's mother tongue.

Voltaire Room in Sanssouci Palace

Frederick II was regarded as an enlightened monarch and disciplined ruler. One of his achievements was the introduction of a set of laws that were binding for all. His saying that everyone should be blessed according to his own taste became a common saying. At banquets in the Marble Hall, he regularly held discussions with close friends, the intellectual elite of his court and enlightened scientists and writers from Italy and France.

Voltaire also regularly sat at the table. The room dedicated to him in Sanssouci Palace was probably never occupied by the philosopher himself. Nevertheless, the room is richly decorated and a real gem of the palace: the yellow walls are adorned with elaborately carved ornaments. Fruit, garlands, birds and monkeys look impressively realistic. Chandeliers and sconces further decorate the room.

Simple grave for the Old Fritz

At the end of his reign, Frederick the Great became Alter Fritz (Old Fritz). Scarred by his long reign and the ongoing wars, he died in his armchair in his study on August 17, 1786. Frederick II's grave is located next to the east wing of the palace under a tomb slab made of plain sandstone. It was not until the 205th anniversary of his death that his wish to be buried like a philosopher was fulfilled. In August 1991, his remains were reburied in the Potsdam crypt, which the king had commissioned during his lifetime. In addition to flowers, potatoes also grow on his grave. They are a sign of gratitude for the king's decree to plant potatoes in Prussia.

Few changes due to successors

After the death of Old Fritz, only the study and bedroom were redesigned by his successor, Frederick William II (1744-97). Stylistic elements of classicism were now incorporated into these rooms. Apart from these changes, the palace remained as it was. The descendants of Frederick the Great rarely stayed in the rooms. Sanssouci has been uninhabited since 1873.

Buildings worth seeing around the castle

There are other noteworthy buildings in the immediate vicinity of the palace. To the west of the palace are the Neue Kammern (New Chambers), a guest house in the late rococo style. To the east of the palace is the Bildergalerie (Picture Gallery), Germany's oldest preserved museum. The picture gallery exhibits works from the Italian Renaissance and Flemish and Italian Baroque periods.

The Chinese Tea House was built at the edge of the gardens. Frederick II sketched the pavilion, which is decorated with golden figures and columns stylized as palm trees. The last palace that Frederick the Great had built in Sanssouci Park is the Neues Palais (New Palace). It houses magnificent banqueting halls, galleries and apartments with excellent furnishings.

Pleasure garden and fountains at Sanssouci Palace

The Lustgarten (pleasure garden) is just as impressive as Sanssouci Palace. The classic French garden designed by Knobelsdorff stretches from the obelisk at the park entrance to the New Chambers. In addition to the beautiful terraces, the fountain with its tall fountain in the center of the park is also impressive. The gardens have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990.

Information

• Address:
  Maulbeerallee 1
  14469 Potsdam
  City map
• Opening Hours: April to October: Tue-Sun 9 am - 5:30 pm; November to March: Tue-Sun 9 am - 4:30 pm
• Accessibility: Suitable for people with disabilities with an accompanying person. Wheelchair accessible restrooms in the Visitor Center at the Old Mill.
• Admission Fee:
  €14, reduced fee €10, incl. guided tour or audio guide
• Tickets: Book tickets
• Please Note: The interior of Sanssouci Palace can only be visited in the context of a guided tour.