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?
Jana Irving Schloss Sanssouci on a very dreary February day. The terraces are covered in greenery, in the summer. (Photo of the palace in the summer.)
Jana Irving Very, very yellow.
Jana Irving The entrance to the palace is around the back.
Jana Irving Not as fancy on this side, but still fancy.
Jana Irving There are some random fake Roman ruins out in the park. There were a lot of other buildings and even a couple palaces in the park that I didn’t see due to the weather.
Jana Irving It was so dark in the palace (would have been fine if it wasn’t downpouring outside). Luckily my iPhone pictures turned out okay.
Jana Irving The Library of Frederick II. Taken through some glass. I would have loved to go into that room.
Jana Irving The Study and Bedroom of Frederick II. He also died in his armchair in this room.
Jana Irving His bed was back in this area behind a bunch of columns.
Jana Irving The Concert Room of Frederick II.
Jana Irving This ceiling is ridiculous.
Jana Irving The gorgeous Marble Hall, the formal reception room of the palace.
Jana Irving This room was awesome. It was a guest room. The decorations on the walls are almost 3D animals and flowers.
Jana Irving There’s a little squirrel in this one.
Jana Irving There were a lot of parrots on the walls.
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.
Jana Irving Just an 18th century windmill next to the palace.
Jana Irving Neue Kammern von Sanssouci (New Chambers), another small palace near Sansoucci. Now it serves as an art gallery.
Jana Irving The very fancy Chinese House.
Jana Irving Orangerieschloss (the Orangery Palace), another fancy palace in the same park.
Jana Irving On the long walk to the Neues Palais.
Jana Irving Neues Palais on a gloomy morning.
Jana Irving It was super fancy inside, too. (Photos of the interior.)
Jana Irving These fancy buildings behind the palace were servants’ quarters and the kitchen. There was a tunnel under the plaza in front, so no one had to see the servants carrying food to the palace from the kitchen. They are now part of a university.
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!
or
Start at the beginning of this adventure in Zurich!
