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Potsdam, Babelsberg, and Sanssouci

Cicilienhof Palace, Potsdam
The Cicielienhof Palace in Potsdam was the site of the 1945 Potsdam Conference. Learn more about this and more below. - See larger view. PHOTO © Hyde Flippo

Potsdam and Babelsberg
Welcome to Part 4 of our guide on what to see in Berlin and Potsdam.

Also see: Berlin at a Glance for an alphabetical list.

Potsdam is a city southwest of Berlin. With a population of about 140,000, Potsdam is the capital of the state of Brandenburg (which surrounds the city-state of Berlin). The city was home to royalty, and Frederick the Great (1712-1786) spent his summers at Sanssouci Palace here. Before the war, neighboring Babelsberg was the home of Germany’s “Hollywood,” the famous Ufa Studios. The studios are again in business, and the Film Park is a popular tourist attraction. In July 1945, the Allied leaders Winston Churchill, Harry Truman, Joseph Stalin met in the great hall of Schloss Cecilienhof (photo) for what became known as the Potsdam Conference. Potsdam can easily be reached by auto or S-Bahn (commuter rail) from Berlin. (The same BVG ticket that gets you to Potsdam on the S-Bahn is also valid on the buses that run from the train station to Sanssouci Park.)

Sanssouci Palace, Potsdam
Sanssouci Palace was the summer home of Frederick the Great in Potsdam.
Photo © Hyde Flippo - See larger view.

POTSDAM AND BABELSBERG | Palaces and more
(Continued from Berlin - Part 3)

  • Sanssouci Park | Once the private grounds of Brandenburg’s royalty, this large park containing several palaces and gardens is one of the most beautiful in all of Europe. Don’t miss the following palaces in the park:
    • Schloss Sanssouci - With its formal terraced vineyard, Sanssouci is the oldest palace – and the jewel of them all. See photo.
    • Orangerie - built to house royal and other guests
    • Neues Palais - the largest palace - See photo.
    • Schloss Charlottenhof - the smallest, Neo-Classical
    • WEB > Sanssouci Palace (English)

  • Brandenburg Gate | Potsdam has its own, smaller version that is older than the one in Berlin. It is one of three surviving Potsdam city gates (out of five).

  • Altstadt | Potsdam’s Old Town and its Old Market Square (Alter Markt) are a key attraction. The Stadtschloss (City Palace, 1662) that once stood on the square fell victim to World War II bombs (like much of Potsdam) and the East German government (which finished the job by pulling it down). Today the square is dominated by the classical Nikolaikirche (church).
Potsdam city hall
The 1945 Potsdam Conference was held at Cecilienhof Palace. The attendees: Churchill, Truman, and Stalin. PHOTO © National Archives and trumanlibrary.org
  • Schloss Cecilienhof | Once home to the Hohenzollern royal family, this palace, built between 1914 and 1917, hosted the 1945 Potsdam Conference (see photo above). Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as a conference center and four-star hotel located in the Neuer Garten (New Garden) park. - See photo of the palace today.
    WEB > Cecilienhof Palace (English)

  • Dutch Quarter | The Holländisches Viertel is a two-block section with about 150 red-brick Dutch-style buildings. It dates back to 1734.

Potsdam city hall
The Rathaus (City Hall) in Potsdam. - More photos. PHOTO © Hyde Flippo

  • Alexandrowka | This former Russian colony is now a small enclave of Russian architecture and a UNESCO world heritage site.

  • Marstall - Filmmuseum | Potsdam’s film museum is housed in former royal stables. It documents the history of the nearby Babelsberg (Ufa) studios.
    WEB > Filmmuseum Potsdam (English or German)
Einsteinturm, Potsdam
The Einstein Tower in Potsdam. See a larger view. Photo © Hyde Flippo
  • Einstein Tower | Originally built in 1921 as a solar telescope to verify Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, the Einsteinturm now functions as a working solar observatory as part of the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam. Designed by Erich Mendelsohn, the unique tower, located in the Albert Einstein Science Park, was badly damaged in the war, but was restored in 1999. It is one of the few existing examples of expressionist architecture. - See photo.
    WEB > Einstein Tower - Wikipedia

  • Filmpark Babelsberg | A theme park with stunts, exhibits, and film sets. I think it's much more interesting to tour the actual Studio Babelsberg (film and TV) next door, where Marlene Dietrich and other film stars once worked.
    WEB > Filmpark Babelsberg (English)

  • FCC Turbine Potsdam | Germany’s top women’s soccer team comes from Potsdam. (See web links below.)

  • More > An alphabetical list in Berlin at a Glance
  • Travel guides | There’s much more to see and do! See our Bookstore for travel guides for Berlin and Potsdam.

Our Berlin City Guide continues with Berlin at a Glance

BACK > Berlin Sights - Part 2

BACK > Berlin Sights - Part 1

MORE > Berlin Photo Gallery

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