Check out the grand palaces of the Prussian kings!
Potsdam, Germany, is a very lovely city within reach of Berlin’s S-bahn. It has palaces, a lovely town center and even lakes. I only saw two of the palaces. It was a miserable, rainy day. I got tired of the weather, so I didn’t explore the town of Potsdam like I usually do. However, I did get to see two of those palaces and they even let me take photos inside one of them.
I took the bus from the train station to the Schlosspark Sanssouci (Sanssouci Palace Park). I may have gotten a couple of other tourists lost because I got off the bus a stop early. I already helped them find the right bus. (They eventually made it to the palace.) How did I know how to get around a place I had never been? I’m very familiar with public transportation systems and the fact that I have Google Maps on my phone. It makes traveling so much easier.
Sanssouci Park was initially laid out in the 1700s under the reign of the Prussian king, Frederick the Great. Schloss Sanssouci (Sanssouci Palace) was a summer residence, so therefore an elaborate garden was needed. Unfortunately, since it was winter, all the lovely statues were covered. Sanssouci was Frederick’s private retreat from court life. It’s hard to be a king, you know?
After Sanssouci, I braved the weather and walked to the Neues Palais (New Palace) on the other side of the park. All the outbuildings were pretty much closed in the park for the winter as well. You have to be on a tour to go inside the New Palace. I was the only one on mine. The palace is in active restoration, but it is gorgeous, nonetheless. New Palace was also constructed for Frederick the Great and was another summer residence, much bigger than Sanssouci though.
I would love to go back to Potsdam. There are a couple of villas and palaces outside of town a bit, as well. One of which hosted the Potsdam Conference. The town also looked lovely. Definitely worth a trip back someday.
Check out my next update where I explore the adorable German city of Bamberg!
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Start at the beginning of this adventure in Zurich!