One day in February, while vacationing in Berlin, Elena and her mother decided to go to Potsdam. For this sat down on railway station“Zoo” (Berlin Zoologischer Garten) on the S-bahn 7 train going directly to this city, and set off on it to the southwest.
The S7 train (you can also board it at another station on the route, not just at Zoo) runs every 10 minutes. True, on the way we had to change at the Berlin Wannsee station to another train of the same direction, S-bahn 7, standing on the next track, literally across the platform. One of the passengers, a young mother with a stroller, told us about this. The loudspeaker also warned about the need for a transfer, but we do not understand German. It was probably associated with some temporary work on the tracks. It took us about 20 seconds.
How much does it cost to get to Potsdam?
We arrived at the Potsdam railway station - Potsdam Hbf, and right there there is a shopping gallery. This could not help but delay Lenin’s mother, and she went to look at the shops. At this time Elena was waiting for her in the central hall, silently studying the Berlin Welcome Card booklet. And then a bearded man approached her and offered sightseeing tour in Potsdam, added that there is an audio guide in Russian and a discount for the Welcome Card.
When my mother left the store after consulting, we agreed and went to the excursion bus parked at the station, where we bought a tour (15 euros per person, it is not clear whether there was actually a discount). Since there was still time before departure, we returned to the station's shopping gallery and did some shopping. We bought creams at a cosmetic store, and earrings at a jewelry store.
Sightseeing tour by bus: Dutch Quarter, Berlinerstrasse, Glienicke Bridge
The tour started at 11 o'clock. From the bus window we saw the Church of St. Nicholas, the restored city palace, a pumping station in the shape of a mosque, the Brandenburg, Hunting and Nauen Gates, and drove past the Dutch Quarter. We drove along Berlinerstrasse to the Glieniker Bridge, where we crossed the Havel River, thus finding ourselves back in Berlin, turned around and returned to Potsdam.
The Glienicke Bridge is remarkable for its history - after the division and before the unification of Germany, it divided not just the federal states of Brandenburg and Berlin, but states and even the worlds - the GDR and West Berlin. On this famous “Bridge of Spies”, arrested agents of the Soviet and American intelligence services were exchanged more than once.
Having driven along Berliner Strasse again, we turned into the “closed city” - an area of Potsdam, which during the GDR period was a border area and occupied by the Soviet military and intelligence. The bus drove past nice villas and small one-story houses, built, as the audio guide said, in the 30s for railway workers, past the modern hotel Kaiserin Augusta Stiftung. It was built at the beginning of the twentieth century as a boarding school, and in the second half of the century it was occupied by the secret services.
Cecilienhof and Aleksandrovka
So we got to the New Garden and Cecilienhof Palace, where the Potsdam Conference was held in 1945 and an agreement was reached on the post-war structure of Europe. Today the palace, built at the beginning of the 20th century for the son of the last German emperor, Wilhelm II, and his wife Cecilia, is used as a museum and hotel.
The difference between the Potsdam city tour and the Berlin one, which we also bought, was the pedestrian part. On the territory of Cecilienhof, the guide took all the tourists off the bus and walked around the castle, talking about it in German and English. For Russian-speaking participants (and that was just us) there was a booklet in a binder. After walking around the palace, the group returned to the bus.
Further the route passed by the old prison, turned into a museum, away from the " forbidden city" - to Aleksandrovka, a Russian village. In 1826-1827, this small colony was rebuilt for singers of the Russian soldiers' choir, former prisoners of war, and participants in the Napoleonic wars. The audio guide told us that 2 more families with Russian surnames live on the territory of Alexandrovka - descendants of those very first settlers.
Sans Souci
Having made a circle around the Russian village, the bus brought us to Sans Souci Park (from the French san souci - “without worries”). The most famous palace of the Prussian Emperor Frederick the Great, also called Sanssouci, is located there. It was built in the mid-18th century. Nearby is the grave of Frederick, who wanted to be buried near his country house (however, the remains of the Kaiser were reburied near the palace only 205 years after his death). In addition to flowers, potato tubers are brought to his grave, since it was Frederick the Great who popularized potatoes in Germany.
The palace complex of Sanssouci is often called the “German Versailles”. There are mesh pavilions, a multi-tiered vineyard, a Chinese-style tea house, a greenhouse palace, a New Palace designed for official receptions; house with dragons (now a restaurant), landscape park.
The audio guide on the tour bus and the live, walking guide told the tour participants about the main and New Palace, after which the tour ended, and those who wished could return on the same bus to the city center. However, Elena and her mother stayed briefly in Sans Souci to explore the park, visit the gift shop and restrooms (they are near the windmill). After that, we had to wait for the regular passenger bus No. 695, and at about 16:00 we arrived in the center of Potsdam - to the Hunter's Gate.
On foot: Bradenburger Strasse and again the Dutch Quarter
From there, along Lindenstraße, we reached the central pedestrian street Brandenburger Straße, connecting the Brandenburg Gate and the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. We walked along it, going into shops (mostly shoe stores) and trying to go into one of the restaurants (but unsuccessfully, since it was on the second floor, where the elevator was supposed to take visitors, but the elevator call button did not work - perhaps the restaurant was just closed).
Then we turned onto Friedrich-Ebert-Straße towards the Nauen Gate and had a very tasty dinner at the restaurant Der Klosterkeller http://www.klosterkeller-potsdam.de/. Elena’s mother had cheese soup and something like jellied beef with vegetables (Home made boiled round beef in Jelly), and Elena herself had pieces of pork in bacon with mashed potatoes (The coachman´s favorite dish: Roasted medallions of pork wrapped in bacon enhanced by a Thyme sauce, served with fresh herbal mushrooms and butchess potatoes). And, of course, beer.
Last update - 07/20/2015Potsdam
Potsdam, a suburb of Berlin, which smoothly turns into Berlin itself, is associated primarily with the Potsdam Conference and the Sanssouci Palace. This is very green City, with huge expanses of water around it, there are more than one or two palaces, although it is not at all necessary to visit them all. Potsdam can be an excellent base for exploring Berlin and the surrounding area: it is cheaper to live here than in Berlin, and you can rent good apartments. There is one thing - you need to settle either not too far from the station, or have access to highways, that is, not go deep into the city center.
Since the reunification of Germany, the complex of gardens and palaces of Brandenburg and Berlin has been constantly being restored. The immediate plans include: New Palace (partial renovation), Babelsberg Palace (complete renovation), Orangery Palace (partial renovation), New garden(works in the park), Cecilienhof Palace (partial renovation), Charlottenburg (partial renovation), Rheinsberg Palace (interior renovation). See the palaces' website for current openings and closures.
Road and orientation
From Potsdam you can reach Berlin city center directly in 25 minutes. It is better to travel by regional train (RE) rather than city train (S): although the city train runs more often, it takes longer and is much less comfortable. The RE 1 train stops in Berlin at the main tourist stops (zoo, main station (close to the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag), Alexanderplatz) and goes further towards Frankfurt an der Oder.Another way to Berlin passes through the Glienicke Bridge: take the tram to the bridge, then transfer to the bus. This route is suitable for those who are not in a hurry and want to see the palace on Peacock Island and Lake Wannsee.
If you want to park in Potsdam for free and in close proximity to Sanssouci Park, pay attention to the street that runs along the park below. You can park for free on Geschwister-Scholl-Str. on the roadside, better closer to Charlottenhof if you want to visit Sanssouci Palace. Walking from this street to the central alley of Sanssouci Park takes about 10 minutes, to the Sanssouci Palace - it will depend on where on the street you park. There are places available until 11 a.m., then there is little chance.
Potsdam - Big city, the distances between the attractions are conditionally walking, that is, you will get to the parks, but you will get tired, and the parks themselves are extremely large. Therefore, if you are coming from Berlin, then buy a day ticket for ABC zones, from other cities - a Brandenburg ticket, and if you are staying in Potsdam itself, then it is better to stock up on a day ticket for local transport.
There are several main tourist routes. Auto. 695 goes from the station to the Sanssouci Palace and then along the park to the New Palace. Note that near the entrance to Sanssouci Park it turns in the opposite direction and goes around a good chunk of the city. Simplified tourist schemes These bus pretzels ignore transport. Auto. X15 goes from the station to Sanssouci Palace. Auto. X5 goes to the New Palace. Trams 92, 96 go past the Aleksandrovka colony and come quite close to one of the entrances to the New Garden (Neuer Garten), but from this entrance it is still about 20-25 minutes to walk to the Cecilienhof Palace. You need to spend 15-20 minutes to approach this palace from the Glienicke Bridge, where tram 93 goes from the station.
Another way to travel between Potsdam's attractions (besides Sanssouci Park), especially in good weather, is a water taxi. The water taxi stop is located across the square from the station. Taxi runs quite often. However, this method will be more expensive.
We should also not forget about boat trips. In addition to the water taxi, which runs according to a schedule from stop to stop, there are also circular walks around the Jungfernsee, day walks and half-day walks around the local many lakes and river branches.
A little history
Although Potsdam is a fairly old Slavic settlement and was first mentioned in the 10th century, until the 17th century. it remained small and insignificant. At the beginning of the 17th century. The electors turned their attention to Potsdam and built the first palace there. The Great Elector Friedrich Wilhelm decided to establish his second residence here, and from that moment the development of the city began.In order not to get confused in all these Fredericks and Wilhelms, we will write who followed whom and what they built. The table contains only those rulers who were important for Potsdam, from historical information I chose only a few things to make it clear what kind of person he is.
| Name and dates of life | what is remembered in history | what did you do in Potsdam | style |
| 1. Great Elector Friedrich Wilhelm 1(1620-1688) - Duke of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynasty | formed an independent Prussia, invited numerous colonists from Holland and France to the lands empty after the 30-year war | Potsdam is the second residence of the Elector. Edict of Potsdam - Huguenots from France invited | |
| 2. Friedrich Wilhelm 1(1688-1740), King of Prussia, grandson of number 1, "Soldier King" | pursued a policy of brutal control and economy, including in relation to the royal family | turned Potsdam into a garrison city, greatly increased its size, and the Dutch Quarter was built | |
| 3. Frederick 2 the Great(1712-1786), King of Prussia, "Old Fritz", son of number 2 | philosopher king, patron of science and art, pursued a policy of enlightened absolutism, strengthened Prussia as a state | Sans Souci (1769), New Palace, Temple of Friendship, Chinese Tea House (1757), House of the Dragon (1772) and Belvedere on Mount Klausberg, New Chambers, Picture Gallery (1764), Brandenburg Gate (1770) | Rococo and Baroque, French garden |
| 4. Friedrich Wilhelm 2(1744-1797), King of Prussia, nephew of number 3, grandson of number 2 | preferred entertainment rather than politics, nevertheless increased his territory through participation in the division of Poland | Marble Palace (1792), New Garden (1787), palace on the island of Pfauen (1797) | early classicism, romanticism, English landscape park |
| 5. Friedrich Wilhelm 3(1770-1840), King of Prussia, son of number 4 | pursued the policy of the Restoration, introduced strict censorship | Alexandrovka colony (1827) | classicism |
| 6. Friedrich Wilhelm 4(1795-1861), King of Prussia, son of number 5 | “romantic on the throne”, reduced censorship, stopped persecution of other faiths, patronized the arts | Charlottenhof Palace (1828), Friedenskirche Church, Orangery Palace (1864), Roman Baths (1840), Belvedere on Mount Pfingstberg, renovated Sanssouci | stylization of the Italian Renaissance, classicism |
| 7. Wilhelm 1(1797-1888), King of Prussia and subsequently first Emperor of a united Germany, son of number 5 and brother of number 6 | appointed Otto von Bismarck as prime minister, who carried out realpolitik | Babelsberg Palace and Park (1831-1849) | neo-gothic |
| 8. Wilhelm 2(1859-1941), Kaiser of Germany, grandson of number 7 | a very strong-willed person, loved the army and especially the navy, was one of those who started the First World War, as a result of which in 1918 he was forced to renounce the throne and emigrate to Holland | built for his son Cecilienhof (1912) |
Sanssouci and Charlottenhof parks: Sanssouci palace and other park buildings
If you want to visit the Sans Souci Palace, then it is better to start there by going there by bus, since the excursions are held at a time and there are too many people willing, and then, while waiting for your time, return to the entrance to the park. If you want to see the palaces only from the outside, it is better to start from the entrance to the main alley. To take photographs in palaces and pavilions, you need to buy a single day permit. The piece of paper is hung on the camera or hand.In the information centers behind the Sanssouci Palace and near the New Palace you can buy a park plan for 2.50 euros, it will not be out of place. The same plan is sometimes sold by special people at the entrance to the park. In the New Garden I also saw a vending machine selling plans, probably the same one can be found in Sanssouci Park.
The Baroque park was laid out after the construction of the palace in the mid-18th century. The Prussian rulers of that century were distinguished by their industriousness and economy, so the idea of combining the utilitarian and entertainment principles, which formed the basis of the park's layout, is not surprising. Numerous fruit trees were planted, a vegetable garden was laid out, and the palace is hidden behind vine terraces. Of course, the park has undergone changes: after Frederick 2, Friedrich Wilhelm 4 lived in the Sanssouci Palace, then there were world wars and the division of Germany, which did not have the best effect on the appearance of the Potsdam gardens. And Sans Souci Park, of course, has not reached us in its original form; the baroque French garden quickly turns into a landscape garden.
Let's start our walk from the entrance to the park on the main alley. The length of the alley from the obelisk in front of the entrance to the New Palace is 2.5 km. If you don’t have enough time, you can be satisfied with points 1-11; they will take about 3-4 hours, depending on how thoroughly you examine them. 
1. When entering on the left there is Friedenskirche(Friedenskirche, 1854), created on the model of Italian churches and serving as the tomb of Friedrich Wilhelm 4, Friedrich Wilhelm 1, Friedrich 3 and other members of the imperial family.
2. Hiding not far from the entrance Neptune's grotto(1757). It's easy to miss, especially if you don't have a plan with you.
3. On the hill above the grotto - Art Gallery(Bildergalerie, 1764). This is one of two symmetrical buildings built to the right and left of the Sanssouci Palace under Frederick 2 the Great. The gallery displays paintings from the collection of Frederick the Great. Some of the paintings ended up in private collections; in their place, empty frames were left on the walls. The collection contains mainly works by Baroque and Rococo artists, including very famous ones: Rubens, Caravaggio, van Dyck, Watteau.
Art Gallery: 
Main alley
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4. Palace of Sanssouci(Sanssouci) and the baroque park with it inevitably make one think of Versailles and call it another copy, this time Prussian. However, the idea that formed the basis of the layout of both the palace and the garden is directly opposite to the idea of Versailles: there is the victory of man over nature, the desire to subjugate it, trim it to one’s own comb, demonstrate the luxury and power of the king, here is the unity of man and nature, private Royal Palace, in which only a few were allowed to stay.
From the central fountain, which, by the way, only became operational in the mid-19th century, when a steam pumping station in the shape of a mosque was built, the palace is barely visible behind a series of stairs and vineyard terraces. The inscription on the palace sans souci..., meaning “without worries” in French, in the understanding of the philosopher king meant rather that he intended to live and die here without the bustle of this world, and not in continuous entertainment.
As I already said, excursions in the palace are held according to time. To visit several palaces and pavilions, you can buy a Sans Souci+ ticket for 19 euros online and print it out. For an additional 2 euros you can book a time that suits you. A family ticket for 49 euros can be purchased at the box office. Separate tickets to all palaces and pavilions are purchased at them.
There are only about a dozen rooms in the palace. They are well preserved, because the palace was not destroyed during the war. Several rooms were guest rooms, and six more belonged to the royal apartments. One of the rooms is named after Voltaire, as he lived here when he visited Frederick.
In addition to the royal apartments themselves, you can also separately visit the palace kitchen of the 19th century. and the so-called women's wing (Damenflugel). The women's wing appeared under Frederick William 4, who did not touch the royal apartments out of respect for Frederick the Great, but remodeled the side wing in order to accommodate ladies-in-waiting and courtiers. 
The facade in front of the terraces and the façade with the access courtyard surrounded by a colonnade.
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The last photo shows a view from the colonnade of the artificial ruins on Mount Ruinenberg. According to Friedrich's plan, there should have been a water reservoir on the mountain that would supply water to the fountains. Several mills had to lift water into the reservoir. They were never built because the project turned out to be too expensive and the available craftsmen could not implement it correctly. Therefore, the fountain was launched only once - thanks to the melted water. After the war, the park was used for quite a long time by the Soviet army for training, so it fell into disrepair and was restored at the end of the 20th century.
5. At the information office near the mill you can get brochures, buy tickets, books and a map of the park.
6. Historical mill, although considered historical, was actually burned during a battle at the end of the war and is a new building. The original mill was built in 1737-1739. to provide for the greatly increased garrison and population. Soon, Frederick the Great decided to build a palace, and the miller filed a complaint that his mill would not receive enough wind. This miller was eventually compensated, sold the mill, and built another in another location. His successor was also unable to make a profit from the mill and it eventually burned down. This whole story was transformed into a legend: the king wanted to remove the mill, since it interfered with his work with its noise, and the miller said that a fair royal court would not allow this. In fact, Friedrich believed that the mill was an integral element of the rural landscape. A new mill was built at the end of the 18th century, but also could not operate successfully. During the reign of Frederick William 4, it came into the possession of the emperor. It was this mill that was restored at the end of the 20th century. The mill houses a museum, but it also works.
7. New wards(Neue Kammern, 1775) complete the ensemble. Initially, this place was a greenhouse for winter storage of heat-loving plants. New chambers served to accommodate guests.
New chambers with a mill in the background.
8, 9. Nice small gardens with statues and fountains - Sicilian and Northern.
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10.B Chinese tea house(Chinesisches Haus, 1764) exhibits a collection of porcelain.
11. Orangery Palace(Orangerieschloss, 1864) was built at the request of Friedrich Wilhelm 4 in the Italian Renaissance style. It is located across the street where the car travels. 695, from Sanssouci Park. One hall of the palace was used for winter maintenance of heat-loving plants, the other, the Raphael hall, contains numerous copies of works by this artist. The remaining rooms served to accommodate the emperor's guests. In particular, the widow of Nicholas 1, Alexandra Fedorovna (nee Charlotte of Prussia), stayed there. This year the Orangery Palace is undergoing renovations.
We continue our walk. If you don’t have enough time, but want to visit the New Palace, then you can safely skip points 12-16 and take bus 695 to the New Palace (the bus runs about 3 times an hour).
12. A small botanical garden is located next to the Orangery Palace.
13. Rising up linden alley connects the Orangery Palace with the Belvedere. Along the way there will be another house with dragons - it is hiding on the side of the alley. House with dragons(Drachenhaus, 1772) - a small, rather expensive cafe. The house is stylized as a pagoda, dragons stick out at the corners of the roof.
14. Belvedere on Mount Klausberg(1772) was conceived as an observation point and was the last building built in the park during the time of Frederick II. During the war, the building was almost completely destroyed and restored at the end of the 20th century.
We go down the mountain back to the park.
15, 16 - two pavilions located symmetrically relative to the main alley: Temple of Friendship (Freundschaftstempel) and Antique Temple (Antikentempel). The first was commissioned by Frederick 2 in memory of his deceased sister, the second was intended to store the royal collection of ancient art and coins, and is now the tomb of members of the Hohenzollern family and is closed to the public.
17. New Palace(Neues Palais, 1769), unlike the Sanssouci Palace, was intended to be representative. Therefore, it looks very lush both outside and inside. As the restoration of the Potsdam palaces continues, some rooms may be closed. During the time of Frederick the Great, the palace served to accommodate royal guests and hold holidays. After his death, the palace was used only sporadically until the end of the 19th century, when it became the favorite summer residence of the last Emperor William II.
Behind the New Palace along the main alley, the ensemble ends with two magnificent buildings connected by a colonnade (1769). These are service buildings designed to accommodate the emperor's employees, service personnel, and kitchens. Now these are university buildings.
The new palace from the main alley.
The New Palace from the side of the service buildings
Service buildings
Inside (only a few rooms were shown)
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18, 19. We complete the circle with the Charlottenhof Palace and the Roman Baths. You can safely skip them if you lack time.
Charlottenhof Palace(Charlottenhof) was built for Friedrich Wilhelm 4, then Crown Prince, in 1826-29. The small palace is designed in the style of classicism both outside and inside.
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There is a landscaped park around it, smoothly flowing into Sanssouci Park. Like many other gardens in Potsdam, the talented landscape architect Peter Joseph Lenne worked here.
Roman baths, a hippodrome and a pheasant yard were built in the park. Roman baths(Romischen Bader, 1840) - these are not baths at all, but the head gardener’s house, a small garden and a tea house, built in the Italian style.
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New Garden (Neuer Garten)
To avoid confusion: the New Palace is located in Sanssouci Park, although at its far end, the New Garden is located on the shores of the Holy Lake and is not within walking distance of Sanssouci. It is worth visiting in two cases: if you spend more than one day in Potsdam or if you want to be sure to visit the Cecilienhof as the site of the Potsdam Conference. You can get there from Sanssouci: by bus. 695 to Einheit Square, where you change to trams 92, 96 and get to Pushkin Alley (Alexandrovka Colony), from where another five minutes to the entrance to the park and another 20 minutes through the park to Cecilienhof, or change to bus 603 and get to the entrance to the park from Cecilienhof. There is another way to get from the station: by tram 93 to the Glienicke Bridge, from where it is a 15-minute walk to the palace.The new garden was created by Friedrich Wilhelm II as a contrast to the Baroque gardens of Sanssouci in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Buildings in the park from the entrance closest to Aleksandrovka to the Marble Palace: gates and a line of houses in the Dutch style (the gates included stables, and the houses were intended for servants), a greenhouse (with a sphinx and statues of Egyptian gods, served for concerts and maintenance heat-loving plants), a kitchen in the form of artificial ruins of a temple (looks like real abandoned ruins, connected to the palace by an underground passage) on the shore near the Marble Palace and, finally, the Marble Palace. All these buildings date back to the end of the 18th century.
IN Marble Palace, which is called so, as you might guess, because it is decorated with marble, lived Frederick William II, and later various crown princes, while waiting for their own residences to be ready. During the war, the palace was quite damaged; later it housed the officers' house and the German Army Museum. Restoration work was completed only in 2009.
Holy Lake
Greenhouse and one of the "Dutch" houses
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Marble Palace
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View of the Peacock Island Palace through the trees
In the far northern part of the garden, near Lake Jungfernsee, there are also two buildings from the time of Friedrich Wilhelm II: a shell grotto (Muschelgrotte) and a dairy farm (Meierei). The grotto served as a place to rest or work on hot days. The farm and cows went perfectly with the idea of a landscaped garden and a return to nature. In the middle of the 19th century. the farm was rebuilt and expanded and a pumping station was added. At the beginning of the 20th century. there was a restaurant here; after the war, the place fell into the exclusion zone of the Berlin Wall and was not visited. The restaurant and brewery are now open again.
Finally, we come to one of the most visited palaces - Caecilienhof(Cecilienhof). The palace was built for the heir of Wilhelm 2, who did not manage to become emperor, in 1914-1917. and stylized as medieval English manors. Crown Prince Wilhelm lived with his family in the palace until his expulsion in 1945. The prince's property was removed and destroyed in a fire, and furniture for the Potsdam Conference was collected from nearby palaces. After the war, part of the palace was given over to a hotel, which is still in operation today. Part of the palace where the Potsdam Conference took place can be viewed, as can the private apartments of the Crown Prince and his wife (apartments with guided tours only every two hours).
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View from the lake
From the palace we go towards the Glienicke Bridge (approx. 15-20 minutes on foot) along Lake Jungfernsee.
Glienicke Bridge(Glienicker Brücke) across the river Havel connects Potsdam with the Wannsee district of Berlin. The first bridge was built in the 17th century to make it easier for the electors to go hunting. The modern bridge dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, was collapsed at the end of the war and was restored in the same form after it. After the construction of the Berlin Wall, the bridge was closed to free traffic. The main thing this bridge is known for is the spy exchanges that have taken place here several times.
Next to the bridge is the Villa Schoningen museum, dedicated to the history of the bridge, the division of Germany and the Cold War.
briefly about the sights
And other attractions and parks
If you are not yet convinced that Postdam is worth spending more than one day, let’s add a few more attractions.Let's start with another large park - Babelsberg. There is no point in visiting it this year, since the palace is still under renovation. The closest you can get to the palace is by car. 616, but it does not go from the central station, but from the Babelsberg train stop. Trams 94 and 99 arrive at the end of Babelsberg Park farthest from the palace. The palace was created for Wilhelm, the second son of Friedrich Wilhelm 3, and was originally supposed to be quite modest. When William's older brother died, he became king and the palace had to be expanded to suit his status. The palace was built in the neo-Gothic style in its most magnificent version. Wilhelm 1 and his family used the palace as a summer residence throughout his reign. His followers were not interested in the palace, and the interiors were lost after 1945.
Except big palace, the Small Palace was built in the park for Wilhelm’s eldest son, and later Emperor Frederick 3. Now it is used as a restaurant. Also preserved: the stables, the Matrosenhaus pavilion, the Gerichtslaube - a tea house created from a medieval Berlin gazebo, and the Flatow tower.
Another park in Babelsberg - but this time it’s entertaining. Before Filmpark Babelsberg traveling from the main station is not very convenient: bus. 601 or 690 (the same buses from stop S7 Babelsberg). You can also walk from the S7 Griebnitzsee stop.
The park has decorations, shows related to the making of films, and themed attractions.
We return again to the other side of Havel. At the northern end of Havelbucht there is a steam pumping station, made in the form of a mosque, at the request of King Frederick William 4 in the mid-19th century. The station pumped water for the Sans Souci fountains. Nowadays you can visit the station (rarely open) and see the machine running on electricity.
We return back to the center. "Scientific and Popularization" Museum Extavium moves to the center in a building on Kanal 57 - everything, like many places now: various simple experiments that you can do with your own hands.
Dutch quarter was built by the decision of the “soldier king” Frederick William 1 for the craftsmen whom he invited from Holland. In one of the houses there is a museum that tells the history of the quarter and holds festivals several times a year (www.jan-bouman-haus.de). The houses of the Dutch Quarter are home to cafes and small shops.
Another colony - this time much smaller - Alexandrovka. During the war with Napoleon, a soldiers' choir was created from Russian prisoners of war. By the time of the death of Alexander 1, there were still 12 singers left in Potsdam. In memory of the Russian Emperor, Friedrich Wilhelm 3 ordered the construction of the Alexandrovka colony for them. The houses were built half-timbered, and the outside had wooden cladding in the style of Russian huts. In 2008, the last of the direct descendants of the first settlers from the Grigoriev family died. In one of the houses there is a museum of the colony (number 5), the rest of the houses are private.
Even further from Aleksandrovka by tram - and we will arrive at the People's Park ( Volkspark). The park was created for the BUGA garden exhibition. There is an entrance fee, although the fee is small. Children's available playgrounds, theme gardens, sports facilities. Sometimes there are holidays, such as the medieval one.
At the edge of the park (where you don’t have to pay for entry yet) there is Biosphere- a large greenhouse that promises you to be in the tropics. The greenhouse would be nice if it cost at least half as much. In the meantime, the Berlin Zoo will give you a lot more for the same money. There are a small number of small animals (in glass aquariums), several birds in cages with a fine mesh (the birds are almost invisible), a small aquarium with tropical fish, stylized as a submarine, a small room with butterflies, and a greenhouse itself with a circular route, laid below and above.
Between the Volkspark and Neuer Garten there is another structure left by the Prussian kings - Belvedere on Mount Pfingstberg. The Belvedere was built in the mid-19th century. at the request of Friedrich Wilhelm 4. The main thing they come there for is good view to Potsdam.
briefly about the sights
Neighborhood
The first neighborhood that comes to mind is, of course, Berlin. But there are a couple more places, if, of course, you have enough time for them.I won’t list all the attractions. You can see the full list on Bradenburg here: part 1 (for links to other parts, see the first). Please note that some of them were restored almost from scratch, and some are of local significance. Concluding the topic of palaces and parks, I will only mention the palace on Peacock Island (Pfaueninsel).
Friedrich Wilhelm 2 lived quite officially for many years with his mistress Wilhemina Encke, for whom he decided to build a palace on Peacock Island in 1794. The palace was completed in the year of the king’s death, the mistress was sent into exile, and the palace was used by the king’s heirs.
From the outside, the palace is stylized as a romantic ruin; half-timbered buildings are hidden under the wooden cladding. Interiors of the early 19th century. made in the style of early classicism. They have remained virtually untouched. In addition to the palace, on the island there is also an equally romantic dairy farm in the neo-Gothic style and a couple of other buildings. The park on the island was laid out by Lenne. Well, let’s not forget about the peacocks; they, of course, should also be on Peacock Island.
You can get to the island by ferry. The ferry is reached from the Wannsee train stop. 218 (to the end).
From Potsdam, from the Glienicke Bridge there is a bus. 316, from which you can transfer to the bus. 218 or get off at the Nikolskoer Weg stop and walk 2 km through the forest to the ferry. Shortly before the ferry along this path you will meet Blockhaus Nikolskoe - a wooden hut built in honor of the visit of Friedrich Wilhelm's daughter Charlotte of Prussia (married Alexandra Feodorovna) and her husband Nicholas 2. Nearby was also built the Protestant Church of Peter and Paul, which has in appearance something resembling Russian churches.
The island can also be reached by water. From Potsdam - take a water taxi to the Krughorn stop, then about 2 km on foot (also past Nikolsky). From Wannsee - on the ships of the company Stern und Kreis (www.sternundkreis.de, route along 7 lakes or attractions included in the UNESCO list).
Berlin... My childhood dream! How many times have I dreamed of getting to this wonderful city, but something always distracted me. Well, the time has come! We spent several days in Berlin on our own. But Berlin took over and became one of the biggest childhood travel disappointments...
Disappointments will be discussed in detail in the appropriate section. And here is a report about our independent trip to Germany.
Preparing for a winter trip to Germany began, as usual, with booking cheap tickets for New Year holidays. Low-cost airline - the already familiar Ryanair, departing from Riga. We came across air tickets from Riga to Berlin at a good price: and from that moment everything started rolling 🙂 As you can see from route, we visited three cities in East Germany: Berlin, Potsdam and Dresden.
Moving to Latvia
Since the flight to Berlin was from Riga, we had to somehow get there. Usually, if we take cheap low-cost tickets around Europe from Riga/Warsaw/Vilnius, we go there by Ecolines buses. Cheap and cheerful, and one night (give or take) on the road. This time we decided to diversify our trip. We got to Riga by blablacar. The road from Moscow took 17 hours, the Latvian border guards, as always, were not known for their efficiency. We stood there for about six hours. My advice is to take a bus, if possible: there is a separate lane for them at the border, and all procedures will take one and a half to two hours, and not five, like by car. In general, having started from Moscow at 6 am, we arrived in Latvia around 10 pm, already local time. If it weren’t for the long wait at the border, we really enjoyed our first trip with blablacar - inexpensive, warm, comfortable, and the company we chose was excellent.
- The Latvians have clamped down on the multivisa 🙁 The consul was not impressed with my five multivisas, work in a tour operator in the Baltic, multiple entries and exits across the Latvian border, and issued me a visa for the duration of the trip.
- The slowest border guards in the world
- Next: Latvian border guards do not put the entry stamp neatly on the side to leave room for other stamps in this multivisa (as Finns, Estonians, Poles do - in general, everyone else), but sculpt it in the middle of the page, and even vertically. Then it is difficult to put other entry stamps on such a page, which wastes precious space in the passport. Every time, Karl!
- And also, bad adventures begin every time in Riga. Either the bus will be late, then it turns out that there are no seats on it that we have reserved (and this happened), or the flight will be delayed.
This same time, when we, tired, arrived in the Latvian capital at 10 pm, it turned out that the bank card was blocked due to a transaction of several euros for payment in an unfamiliar place (a hostel in Riga), there was not enough cash in euros for anything - We intended to withdraw money from an ATM or even pay cashless if possible, but we couldn’t call the bank, since my SIM card also went into the red due to a thoughtlessly sent SMS to friends. Nick does not have roaming enabled. As a result, we could not top up the balance because the account was frozen, and we could not unblock the account because the phone was in the red. So I don’t like adventures in transit Latvia. But you can’t argue: Riga is a beautiful city.
At night we wandered through the snow-covered streets of Riga and ate dumplings in a cafe.
We stayed in a hostel (the culprit of blocking the card) for mere pennies.
Flight Riga - Berlin
In the morning we took minibus No. 22 from the bus station to Riga Airport. Flight Riga - Berlin. Ryanair sets baggage restrictions, so check the baggage rules in advance: take one small bag/backpack and a medium-sized suitcase/large backpack as hand luggage. We were already familiar with these measures, so there were no problems. It is also important to have a printed air ticket with you, otherwise you will have to print it at the airline counter for either 30 euros or 50. In general, it will work out more expensive than a ticket. If with hand luggage and the ticket is ok, then you can relax, since both the service and the board are quite decent. We arrived in Berlin Berlin airport Schonefeld (SXF).
From Schönefeld Airport you can get to Berlin in half an hour directly by subway. Schönefeld Airport belongs to zone C, the ticket can be purchased right there in the terminal. Trains to Berlin run frequently, every 10-15 minutes. Berlin Schonefeld Airport Station:
From here we got to the Ostkreutz station we needed and disembarked safely, reaching the Holiday Inn Berlin City East Side hotel on foot. The hotel is located near the gallery of the same name (the same Berlin Wall), stretching along the Spree River.
Photo from booking.com The hotel itself is a good four. I managed to book it for pennies using work contacts. Near the hotel there is the Mercedes Benz Arena and the following offices:
Some hard workers were constantly working in these offices in the evenings. For the Germans, the beginning of January (with the exception of 1.1 and seemingly 2.1) is normal working days.
On our first evening in Berlin we walked to the famous burger joint Burgermeiste r on the other side of the Spree via the Oberbaumbrücke bridge. The burgers turned out to be really very tasty, I was surprised by the local soda Mischmasch (we called it Mish-Myash) - a mix of cola and Fanta. The downside is that the place is tiny, more like a kiosk, so the seats are standing room only and, in fact, you eat right on the street - that is, there is no place to sit down or warm up. In the summer it’s probably great, but in early January it’s not so great :)
The next morning we had planned free tour of Berlin. That is, not completely free, of course 😉 At the end of the excursion, the guide always asks everyone to chip in for the benefit of further achievements (so-called donations). Usually they give 5-10 euros per person. Either way, it's cheaper than a regular group tour. Such free excursions There is one in almost every city, so it’s worth surfing the Internet in advance. We signed up in advance for a free tour of Berlin. People react to such proposals much more actively than to group excursion, costing, say, 15-20 euros, so such “free” excursions pay off by 100 percent or more. Some dropped out after half the excursion and did not pay.
In fact, on this January day the weather in Berlin was very frosty. Temperature -15 with high humidity - brrrr!
We leave the hotel. In the morning, Berlin opened up to us in all its industrial glory:
Just kidding, of course. Is this beauty? But this is what it looks like most of cities. (To be fair, it is worth noting that this is East Berlin. The post-Soviet legacy is taking its toll...) But I have never seen such melancholy even in the Russian outback. Nine-story panel buildings, factory chimneys, fences of some kind everywhere, wire strung... Everything is gray and gloomy. Graffiti, of which there is a lot, only enhances the overall effect of hopelessness.
We are waiting for the train.
The sightseeing tour of Berlin begins - here is the meeting point with the guide, at the Brandenburg Gate. Despite the gloomy weather and frost, everyone breaks into groups and patiently waits for the excursion to begin. At our planned time (11:00 a.m.), there were about 60-70 freebie lovers, and we had to split into three groups.
I'm very unhappy with how cold it is :)
The tour route around Berlin runs from the Brandenburg Gate past the Memorial to the Dead Jews, Checkpoint Charlie, Hitler's bunker, and stretches along the central streets. Here everything is not so sad - the streets are neat in a European way, but gray and cold.
Here and there in Berlin architecture one can trace elements of self-expression:
It all ends on Museum Island Berliner Dom, according to tradition, a donation to the guide for the service provided.
After saying goodbye to the group, we went into the Berlin Cathedral itself and went up to the observation deck. The inside of the cathedral is warm and beautiful:
And here is a view of the city from observation deck Cathedral. This is already the center of Berlin, its western part.
Yes, photo from my phone, yes, the weather is gray and gloomy. But this does not change the fact that the city is really ugly. Where are the streets that inspire creativity? Where are Rammstein and other German handsome men roaming the streets here? There is none of this. Just taps, dullness and hopelessness.
We are not fans of beer, but, being thoroughly frozen, we decided that we simply needed to have a snack, fortunately there is a Brauhaus Lemke beer garden within walking distance (in the Hackeschen Markt area). It is located under a crossing. We chose this brewery in advance - a good place to appreciate German cuisine and arrange a beer tasting in Berlin. Giant portions of sausages (both Berlin and Thuringian), and Alsatian pie, and a sample of six types of German beer were provided to us. However, we are not connoisseurs, so we indifferently tried everything, but remained unconvinced: we don’t like beer. Entrance to the beer garden:
And, in fact, Alsatian pie - in other words, pita bread with filling on top.
We walk to the hotel. Examples of folk art on every corner and fence:
We are already back in East Berlin. This is what the entrance to the Berlin metro looks like:
East Side Gallery and German hockey
Stretches along the Spree River. In the 90s, artists painted it, making the main idea of their paintings freedom, peace, and the wrongness of what happened earlier. Mostly the pictures are positive, but there are also some that are out of the ordinary, but still classics :)
And dark, scary stories:
That evening in Berlin we suddenly found ourselves at a hockey game. Having gone out for a walk before going to bed, we decided to come closer to the Mercedes Benz arena and look at the posters. We were immediately attacked by a couple of men at the entrance. It turned out that it was the game, the first period, and they were trying to sell their tickets. As a result, we bought two tickets from one of the men for 5 euros (at the original cost of 23 euros per ticket). The Berlin Eisbären played with the Cologne club Haie.
Hockey here is a family game, many come with their wives and children. At the same time, beer flows like a river. What is curious is that instead of new and new plastic containers, it is poured into the same glass all the time - that is, a person is given a plastic glass of 0.5, and he walks around with it all the time and, if necessary, fills it with beer from the seller.
Here is the arena itself:
The next morning you left for Potsdam, included in our Germany itinerary. This is a standard destination for all holidaymakers in Berlin - Potsdam is close, the drive from Berlin is short and there is a lot to see. The journey to Potsdam by metro takes half an hour, to zone C. Despite its proximity to Berlin, Potsdam is already the capital of the federal state of Brandenburg.
I won’t say much about Potsdam, since we didn’t see everything there. Definitely best time to visit Potsdam parks - in spring or summer. As a last resort - in the fall, but not in the winter :) Still, Potsdam is a city of parks. In January and in Berlin. and it was very cold in Potsdam, so out of everything we managed to see a little of the city itself, the An-Souci Palace (without going inside), the Lustgarten park and the nearby and obscure things under the snow. City map:
The train from Berlin goes directly to the Potsdam Hauptbahnhof station - this is the main station of Potsdam, quite large and decent. We walk from the station to the old part of Potsdam. Snow everywhere:
The pedestrian street Brandenburger Straße leads directly to the local Brandenburg Gate, behind which the park area begins - there are many cafes, souvenir shops, and ATMs.
There is an interesting tradition of getting rid of Christmas trees in Germany - they are simply taken out onto the sidewalk/road and that’s it. A special service comes by and cleans everything up.
Showcases and decorations left over from the holidays:
Along one of the park alleys we go to Sans Souci - the most famous palace of Frederick the Great. It seems that we are the only ones in the entire park.
Geese and ducks graze near the fountain in front of the Sanssouci Palace, asking for crackers. After all, there are people besides us! A couple was feeding the ducks, which surrounded them in a dense flock.
Staircase in front of the palace and vine terraces:
In general, after wandering around the park for an hour and a half, we realized that there is nothing special to do in Potsdam and Sans Souci in winter. All beauty is hidden under the snow. We didn’t go into the art gallery itself, we walked to the windmill, had lunch in the city and headed to the station to get from Potsdam to Belin by train.
At the station in one of the kiosks we saw the following:
We were already in Berlin at 7 pm, so we decided to continue the Potsdam story by visiting Potsdamer Platz and Sony Center.
We get off at Berlin Central Station. From here you can walk past the Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate to the square in about 20 minutes. At the beginning of January, a giant Christmas tree was installed at the station. The next day the tree was already removed.
We walked past the Reichstag building to the south, towards Potsdamer Platz. Do you see the glowing glass dome? We decided to get under it on the last day of the trip.
The famous Brandenburg Gate:
Shopping center near Potsdamer Platz:
On Potsdamer Platz there are pieces of the Berlin Wall, for some reason covered with chewing gum.
Potsdamer Platz itself, compared to the rest of Berlin - both East and West - looks quite modern. I heard that it is criticized both for its architecture and for the fact that it does not fit into the panorama of the city. For me, it’s quite cute and lively, everything is beautifully illuminated. Anything is better than sadly wandering around the Eastern part of the city.
Under the dome, which connects several buildings, there is a cinema, Apple and Sony stores, restaurants, and cafes.
Travel from Berlin to Dresden
If you can get to Potsdam by metro, then from Berlin to Dresden you need to take a train or bus. The bus to Dresden will be cheaper, so we bought tickets from the bus carrier berlinlinien.de a couple of days before our trip to Germany. There were plenty of tickets, flights every half hour or so, costing 6 euros one way.
In two hours a bus from Berlin took us to the Old Station in Dresden. Dresden is already the state of Saxony. The city lies on the Elbe River, dividing it into two parts - Old city Altstadt and the more modern Neuestadt. In the Old Town, as usual, all the most interesting things are located.
We spontaneously went to Hygiene Museum (Deutsches Hygiene-Museum), inspired by the name, but fell into the realm of anatomy and disease. I expected to see types of soap, washing powders and other things, so I was surprised :)
Such a museum will be of interest to doctors, medical students and anyone interested. However, we were also stuck for a couple of hours. In one of the halls there was a thermal imager, so to speak, live photography.
About two hours later, despite the fact that we had seen enough of all sorts of kranken and other ailments, we got hungry and went out to the Old Town of Dresden.
Old Dresden Center very handsome. Despite the fact that in fact we only stayed there for a few hours, we managed to get a feel for it. Dresden is definitely worth spending two or three days. Maybe next time? Moreover, there are a lot of interesting things in the area.
The setting winter sun peeks out from behind the Frauenkirche:
This church is one of the most famous symbols of the city. Like the entire center of Dresden, it was completely destroyed in 1945. The townspeople collected the remains of the structure piece by piece and pebbles, marked it and preserved it. In the 1990s, it was decided to rebuild the Frauenkirche.
The only thing I didn't like about this wonderful city was that there were too, too many noisy bus-class tourists. Dresden is a popular point on the map that is often combined into bus tours with Munich, Prague, Budapest. Therefore, it is filled with people bawling in Russian, noisy crowds rushing to cafes, shops, pushing everyone in their path in search of souvenirs :) Along the streets of Altstadt there are such souvenir shops with all sorts of rubbish. Many inscriptions are in Russian. There are also signs saying “Russians only for 1 euro” or something like that :)
Zwinger. We didn’t go to the museums; we admired the ensemble from the outside and from the inside park.
Probably everyone has heard that Dresden was almost completely destroyed during the Second World War. Despite the fact that the city was rebuilt and its center is still beautiful, the destruction was horrific. Those interested can visit a panorama installation telling about what Dresden looked like after the 1945 raids. We didn’t have time - the panorama opened just a couple of weeks after we left Germany. So I highly recommend it - it should be:
Sightseeing buses around Dresden depart from Dresden Castle Square (like the popular Hop-on Hop-off), we purchased tickets for one of these routes. It's getting dark:
Evening bus to Berlin only at 9 pm. We go to the bus, which this time departed from another station in Dresden - to Neuestadt. Bye, Dresden!
Walking around Berlin
The last day in Berlin was filled to capacity with plans: we wanted to see everything that we didn’t have time to see or saw poorly. It had warmed up significantly, the temperature in Berlin on our last day of the trip was about 0. We started the day with a walk around the center of Berlin: from Checkpoint Charlie to the Berlin Wall panorama. A detail that constantly caught my eye: there is a lot of graffiti and posters in the city. All the walls are covered in posters! Moreover, not individually, like ours, but 4-8 pieces glued in a row, just to be sure :)
- just a tourist attraction, nothing special. A couple of men dressed in greatcoats stand and clown around for the amusement of tourists. Tourists take pictures with them for money, but they can also do it on the sly.
The next point in your walk around Berlin is visiting Berlin Wall panoramas. It's a temporary installation (similar to the one in Dresden mentioned earlier) and it's really cool. The artist creates and glues a 30-meter panorama relating to some moment in the life of the city.
The action depicted in the panorama takes place on an autumn day in 1980, when the wall still divided Berlin into two parts. The installation is accompanied by sound effects; you can climb onto the balcony and look from above. The author creates similar projects all over the world.
Curry-Wurst Museum
Very close to checkpoint Charlie and the panorama is Museum of German sausages Curry Wurst. Sausages are actually a cross between a wiener and a frankfurter :) Not to say it’s fire, but in general it’s okay, a kind of analogue of a hot dog. They actually sell them all over Berlin. Can buy admission ticket to the museum for 13 euros, I think, with tasting three types curry wurst:
You can sit on the sausage sofa:
And try yourself as a seller of these sausages:
Legend has it that the inventor of these sausages carried ketchup in one hand and curry in the other as she walked down the stairs. When she tripped, it all fell apart and got mixed up. Voila - the recipe is ready! It’s an interesting museum, and you can have a snack, so I also recommend visiting it.
While we were walking around Berlin, it was almost dark. sky above Holocaust memorial:
We went to the museum in memory of the dead Jews near the memorial. There are no photographs from there. Next on our walk around Berlin, we planned to visit the Ritter Sport museum (more precisely, the store).
Oh, this is real chocolate heaven! I perfectly understand the girl with the puzzled expression on her face - her eyes really run wide from so much chocolate. There are sweets, regular bars, giant chocolate bars, and a cafe on the second floor with cakes a la Ritter Sport.
Although we don’t have a sweet tooth, we still left the store with two huge bags. And this is the little man Ampelmann - the symbol of Berlin:
As a souvenir for the naive tourist, you can often see the supposed remains of the Berlin Wall - everything is beautifully packaged and painted to please the eye.
Reichstag at night
The final point in our East German voyage was visit to the Reichstag. You don’t have to pay anything for this, the main thing is to leave a request on the Bundestag website at certain time, which will be confirmed with a 99% probability. Well, or they will confirm it at another time. While we were waiting for our entry into the Reichstag, we had a snack at a restaurant at the station. We forgot a bag of sweets from Ritter Sport there, galloped back (luckily it’s 10 minutes from the Reichstag to the train station in Berlin) and almost blew our entry into the Reichstag. But everything worked out 🙂
An audio guide is provided free of charge. Inside under the Reichstag dome:
I don’t think we’ll be returning to Berlin anytime soon. But next in line are southern Germany, Munich, Neuschwanstein Castle. So we are not saying goodbye to Germany. Ciao!
Berlin from the southwest side. The main train station is southeast of the city center across the Havel River. There are 2 more stations in the city - Charlottenhof and Sanssouci, they are closer to Sanssouci Park and all the palaces, but only RB (Regional Balm) trains stop at them. Most people arrive in Potsdam from Berlin by RE (Regional Express) or S-Bahn (S3 and S7) trains to the main station, from which Charlottenhof Palace is about 2 km on foot.
Tourist offices
Friedrich-Ebert-Strabe 5, next to Alter Markt. Phone 27 55 80
[email protected] Apr.-Oct. Mon-Fri 9.00-19.00, Sat until 18.00, Sun until 16.00, Nov.-March Mon-Fri 10.00-18.00, Sat-Sun 14.00
Here you can buy a “Berlin-Potsdam WelcomeCard” (48 hours - 16 €, 72 hours - 22 €), which allows unlimited use for 72 hours public transport, as well as free or discounted entry to many attractions in both Potsdam and Berlin. Tourist office of Sanssouci near the old windmill opposite the Sanssouci palace.
Phone 969 42 00
Apr.-Oct. daily 8.30-17.00 rest. vr. years 9.00-16.00
Provides information about the palaces of Sanssouci Park.
How to get there
Train
Berlin: S-Bahn, S1, 6 times per hour; Berlin, Schonefeld Airport: Hannover: 1-3 times per hour, 2.5 hours, from 42 €; Leipzig: 1-3 times per hour, 2.5 hours, from 22 €.
Bus
Bus station
Near the main railway station (on the south side). Berlin: No. 638 from the town hall in Spandau, 5.00-19.00, 1 time per hour; Berlin, Schonefeld Airport: No. 602.
To get to Babelsberg from Berlin, you need to take the S-Bahn train: S7, to station. “Babelsberg” (i.e. one stop short of the main station in Potsdam), then bus. No. 694 to the stop. "Ahornstrabe". You can also exit at the previous station. "Griebnitzsee" and then auto. No. 696 to the stop. "Drewitz"
To get to the Schloss Cecilienhof Palace from Berlin, you need to go by train
Urban transport
Potsdam falls within the Berlin city limits railway(S-Bahn). There are also trams and buses in the city. All routes converge at the Lange Brücke bridge near the main train station. Potsdam is part of Berlin's transport area zone C. The fare is almost the same as in the capital. You should know: in Potsdam there is also another transport system- fuer Potsdam und Umland (ohne Stadt Berlin) - with its three zones, which are located within the city and its surroundings. Tickets there are slightly cheaper than in Berlin.
From the history
In the 10th century on the site of Potsdam there was a Slavic settlement. In the 13th century it became part of the Brandenburg Margraviate and at the beginning of the 14th century. received city license. In the 17th century Potsdam became the residence of the Hohenzollerns, who turned it into a garrison city. Since the 18th century Potsdam is the second, after Berlin, Residence of the Prussian kings, the site of military parades and reviews. This distinctive feature remained with him until the middle of the 20th century.
From July 17 to August 2, 1945, a historic conference of the heads of government of the victorious countries: the USSR, the USA and Great Britain (the “Potsdam Conference”) was held at the Schloss Cecilienhof Palace, during which the system of quadripartite occupation of Germany was finally agreed upon. The Potsdam Conference confirmed the transfer to the Soviet Union of 1/3 of the territory of Prussia from its former capital Koenigsberg (since 1949 Kaliningrad).
During World War II, as a result of the Anglo-American bombing in Potsdam, more than a third of all buildings were destroyed, but many buildings and architectural structures were restored to their original form. In 1990, the palaces and parks of Potsdam were included in the List of World Cultural and Cultural Heritage Sites natural heritage UNESCO.
B.S. was born in Potsdam. Jacobi (1801-1874) - Russian physicist and inventor in the field of electrical engineering.
The city has a GEO research center on Earth problems; scientists, in particular, study climate change.
Around town
The panorama of Potsdam is unique: a river with white tourist ships; trains passing over bridges; palaces, churches, ancient buildings; blue Lakes, bordered by greenery of parks and forests. This is one of the most picturesque and interesting cities in Germany.
Palace and park ensemble of Sanssouci(Sanssouci, 1.5 km northwest of the S-Bahn stop "Potsdam Stadt") - the country residence of the Prussian king Frederick II (1712-1786). The French name is given in accordance with the fashion of the time of creation and literally translates as “Without worries”. After the completion of construction and the Seven Years' War, Frederick the Great attracted outstanding thinkers, statesmen, educators and even the famous Venetian adventurer Giacomo Casanova into his circle.
The architectural ensemble here took shape over more than 100 years; there are 4 stages of its creation. The regular French park, decorated with architectural structures from the period 1744-1860, is also one of the most remarkable creations of landscape gardening art in Germany.
Main alley from the gate to the New Palace (Neues Palais) stretches for 2 km. On one of the platforms, located on the Main Alley, a Great Fountain was built, from which wide staircases lead to the Sanssouci Palace. The statues of Venus and Mercury are copies of sculptures by Jean Baptiste Pigalle (1714-1785).
The first to be erected in the oldest part of the park Sanssouci Palace(architect G.W. von Knobelsdorff, 1745-1762). This is one of von Knobelsdorff's best works. The palace is a one-story building in the Rococo style. The richly decorated façade and colonnade at the rear of the palace are impressive. The interior spaces are luxuriously decorated. Voltaire's room contains memories of the great French poet and philosopher, who stayed at the Prussian court in 1750-1753. The art gallery, located on the eastern side of the palace, exhibits paintings mainly from the 17th century - works by Rubens, Van Dyck, Tintoretto, Caravaggio and others.
Next to the palace is the grave of Friedrich P. His coffin was hidden during the war of 1941-1945. The reburial of “Great Frederick” took place in 1991. Nearby is Neptune's grotto. In a buiding New chambers(Neue Kammern, architect Knobelsdorff, 1747-1748) houses the Potsdam Rococo Museum. One of the oldest buildings in the park - Chinese tea house(Chinesisches Teehaus, architect I.G. Bühring, 1754-1756), erected according to the plans of Frederick of the 2nd century. This building, exotic for Europe, whose outline resembles a clover leaf, is decorated with outside gilded stucco. It houses a collection of Chinese porcelain.
The main alley, passing the Antique Temple (Antikentempel) and the Temple of Friendship (Freundschaftstempel), leads to New Palace(Neues Palais), erected during the second period of construction of Sans Souci (1763-1769). The facade of the palace is noticeably overloaded with stucco decoration, and this certain pomp of the building reveals the desire of Frederick II to demonstrate the economic power of the state after a protracted war. The theater hall is one of the most beautiful halls of that era. There are many paintings in the palace; the collection of ancient musical instruments is of interest. By the way, Frederick II was an excellent flutist. Behind the palace there are two buildings "Kommuns" (1765-1769),
False arch. They were used for economic purposes. Nearby is the historical restaurant “Pavilion with Dragons” (Drachenhaus, 1770).
The third period of construction (1825) of Sans Souci was marked by the foundation of a large ornamental garden in the southwestern part of the park. The author of the project was the leading specialist in landscape gardening art at that time, architect Peter Joseph Lenne (1789-1866). In the Charlottenhof Palace (Schloss Charlottenhof, architect K.F. Schinkel, classicism, 1826-1829) the vestibule with a fountain, study, and bedroom of A. Humboldt are especially interesting. It is noteworthy that the rooms of the great traveler are furnished in such a way that they resemble a camping tent. On the western side of the palace there is a hippodrome, where there is an equestrian statue of Frederick II by the sculptor K.D. Rauha (1777-1857) and the Fasaneri pavilion.
Roman baths(Romische Bader, 1828-1844) were created during the last period of the construction of Sans Souci and are located in the northern part of Charlottenhof Park. The author of the project is Ludwig Persius (1803-1865), a student of K.F. Schinkel, deliberately imitated the ancient style. Another work of this architect - Greenhouse(1851-1860). This building served as a house to accommodate princely guests. Russian Tsar Nicholas I and his wife stayed here. In the Raphael room there are copies of 47 paintings by the great Italian painter. South of the Orangery is located Sicilian garden(broken by P.I. Lenne in 1857), famous for its sculptures and rare heat-loving plants. The talent of this landscape architect was also evident in the creation of the Marly Garden, located west of the Friedenskirche Church (Friedenskirche, 1843-1854), built on the model of the Church of St. Clement in Rome.
Some time after the end of the war of 1941-1945, the historical city gates were restored: Nauener Tor, Jagertor, Brandenburger Tor, architect Gontard, Unger, baroque, 1770 . Nauener Tor is one of the earliest examples of neo-Gothic architecture in Germany. The building is complemented by round pseudo-Gothic towers of the English style (architect I.G. Burin, 1755). The Brandenburg Gate was erected on the site of the previous (1733) city gate. Above the central portal there is a lavishly decorated cartouche. The side passages for pedestrians were created in 1843. On the attic on both sides of the coat of arms are depicted Hercules and Mars.
Old Potsdam town hall(1753-1755) - the third architectural structure on this site. In the tower, which is completed by the figure of Atlas with the globe, until 1875 the city prison was located. The city palace (Knobelsdorffhaus, architect Knobelsdorff, 1750) is connected to the town hall by an intermediate building.
In the north of Potsdam, on the shores of the Holy Lake in the Neuer Garten park, there is the Marble Palace (Marmorpalais, architect K. Gontard, K. Langhans, classicism, 1787-1791), made of baked brick.
Cecilienhof Palace (Schloss Cecilienhof, English country style, 1913-1917) is the latest building in the northern part of Neuergarten park, built for Crown Prince Wilhelm. The premises where the Potsdam Agreement was signed have retained the features of that era and are open to the public. They display an exhibition dedicated to the historical events of the summer of 1945. Part of the palace is reserved for a hotel.
In 1740, a settlement of 134 houses was built for immigrants from Holland. The construction of the Dutch Quarter was led by architect I. Bowman. The brickwork of the houses, gables, gutters and portals, painted white, give this unified architectural development a national flavor.
The construction of a park in Babelsberg began at the request of Princess Augusta in the eastern part of the city in the 1830s, simultaneously with the construction of the Babelsberg Palace (architect Schinkel, 1834-1849) in a fashionable style. Later, the palace was supplemented with some parts (architect Persius, 1845-1849). The palace is decorated with towers and turrets, battlements, and bay windows. The exhibition of the Museum of Ancient and Early History is located here.
The population of Potsdam is 150,000 people. Glorious architectural history The town dates back to 1660, when Friedrich Wilhelm noticed this area and began to build his hunting residence here, where the residence of the Prussian kings was subsequently formed. The main palaces were built during the reigns of Georg Wenceslaus von Knobelsdorff and Frederick the Great, including the luxurious palace and park complex During the bombing by the British in mid-April 1945, the city center was completely destroyed, but the castles and parks on the outskirts of the city were not damaged.
How to get to Potsdam
You can easily get to Potsdam by S-Bahn train from Berlin, they run every 15 minutes from Berlin-Charlottenburg, Berlin-Zoo train stations and, in addition, the train to Potsdam runs from Berlin Schönefeld Airport, in Potsdam you can get off at the station near the Potsdam palaces -Sanssouci and in the city center of Potsdam-Charlottenhof.
Transport in Potsdam
There are buses and trams in Potsdam, and it is also convenient to get around the city by bicycle or just on your own two feet. A taxi rank, bus start and bicycle rental are located nearby. railway stations city, the cost of bicycle rental is 12 euros per day.
Shopping and shopping in Potsdam
The so-called Dutch Quarter offers a wide selection of expensive souvenirs for tourists; there are dozens of antique and jewelry stores. There are food markets at Weberplatz and Bassinplatz several days a week.
Excursions and attractions of Potsdam
Of course, the first thing of interest is Potsdam's Gardens, which is located on Schopenhauerstrasse. This is a great place for leisurely walks and enjoying the garden and park complex with golden architecture; the only flaw of the architects is the lack of fountains.
In Potsdam itself, the Dutch Quarter is very interesting with houses, restaurants, and shops. After the Netherlands you will find the village of Aleksandrovka, which is dedicated to Alexander the First.
Potsdam, unlike cosmopolitan Berlin, has retained its pristine nature; here, on the one hand, one can feel the famous German asceticism and luxury of kings, pedantry and high culture. Many local residents operate in Berlin, which can be reached in half an hour by metro using the S-Bahn line using a travel card; for one day it will cost 7.20 euros. Potsdam is very quiet city, a busy place is only the main street with shops and restaurants. In addition to the summer residence of King Frederick the Great Sanssouci in Potsdam, it is interesting to visit Babelsberg Park on the banks of the Havel River, the summer residence of King Frederick William IV, Charlottenhof Palace, the Hohenzollern residence in the New Garden of Potsdam with the Cecilienhof Palace near Lake Jungfernsee, near the Holy Lake.
Nikolaikirche, Church of St. Nicholas
Church of St. Nicholas Located at Am Alten Markt and is a symbol of Potsdam. The church was built in a simple style. Admission is free, but you need to pay a couple of euros to climb to the observation deck from which you can see the whole of Potsdam in detail.
Park Babelsberg, Babelsberg Park
Here you can stay completely alone, take a walk along the Glienicke bridge where the exchange of Soviet and American spies took place. The park contains castles and buildings, such as the Judicial Gazebo, the Sailor's House, the Great and Small Palaces, and the Observation Tower.
Biosphare Potsdam
The Biosphere Park is located in Potsdam at Georg-Hermann-Allee 99, and is a giant greenhouse with outlandish jungle plants with tropical frogs, parrots and butterflies. The entrance ticket costs decent money, namely 11.5 euros.
New Palace in Potsdam
The Neues Palais was built from 1763 to 1769 for the pleasure of King Frederick the Great in the park of Sanssouci, this is the summer residence of the German kings, now located at Am Neuen Palais 10. Tours are held in the palace every hour, you can go individually or with an organized group, right Photography costs are paid separately. Guests of the palace are given felt museum slippers, which are worn over your shoes; they make your stay in the chambers even more pleasant, since you will have to come into contact with the real historical palace parquet. It is interesting that not only the flavor of the Baroque era is preserved here, but also traces of the war; many places in the palace were deliberately left unrestored with marks from fires and bombings of the Second World War. Opposite the palace you will see the Antique Temple and the Temple of Friendship. Entrance fee 8 euros for adults, discount ticket for students 6 euros, there is parking and a restaurant near the palace.
Marmorpalais, Marble Palace
The Marble Palace is located at Im Neuen Garten 10 on the shore of a picturesque lake. Inside you will find a collection of sculptures, frescoes and ceramics, and you can take a boat ride on the lake. The so-called Dutch village stretches along the length of the path that leads from the palace to the main gate.
Cecilienhof Palace, Schloss Cecilienhof, Charlottenhof Castle, New Pavilion
The Hohenzollern castle residence is located on the South of Okonomieweg near the Roman baths, inside there is an exhibition with a collection of porcelain and silver. The entrance ticket costs 3 euros and there is an English-language audio guide. You can only visit with a group.
Schloss Cecilienhof
The castle is located at Im Neuen Garten 11, designed in the style of a medieval English manor, and is now located here historical Museum Potsdam Conference. While here, Truman gave the order to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Tourists will surely enjoy boating on the lake, sitting in beer restaurant. You can visit as part of a tour; there is a Russian-language audio guide; the entrance ticket costs 6 euros.
Belvedere auf dem Pfingstberg
From the Belvedere building there is a wonderful view of the surrounding area, including Aleksandrovka. Many tourists lose all their energy exploring and walking around the park and are unable to get here, which is a shame. Turning off the beaten paths you can see a real miracle of architectural and landscape design. The palace's original purpose was as an entertainment center for parties with stunning views of the city and western Berlin. Don't let it go either.
Alexandrowka, Russian village Alexandrovka
Many Russian tourists outright ignore this attraction and pass by by bus in the direction of the Sans Souci Palace and Garden. However, all the sights are visible from the bus window, and these are fabulous huts on chicken legs, namely 13 opposite the roadway and one building remains unnoticed inside the village. You can notice the German style of all the houses, but with a Russian folk accent
Chinesisches Haus (Chinese House)
The tea house with a tent-shaped roof in Sans Souci Park has magnificent outlines, against which it is very good to take pictures; inside there is a collection of Chinese porcelain, you can visit it if you wish.
Potsdam Hotels
Hotels in Potsdam offer quality rooms; a standard double room can cost between 80 and 140 euros per day. You can live in Hotel Villa Monte Vino with four stars at Gregor-Mendel-Strasse 27, a 10-minute walk to Sanssouci Park. The hotel itself is stylized as a castle. Large rooms, quality breakfast. A standard room costs 150 euros per day.
Hotel Am Grossen Waisenhaus is located at Lindenstrasse 28/29, close to the train station and the city's main attractions.
Hotel Bayrisches Haus is a small, picturesque hotel at Im Wildpark Elisenweg 2, with a spa and swimming pool. A wonderful place to relax in nature.
NH Voltaire Potsdam is a luxury popular hotel at Friedrich-Ebert-Strasse 88.
The four-star Dorint Sanssouci Berlin-Potsdam hotel is located at Jaegerallee 20 in the immediate vicinity of Sanssouci Palace.
Mercure Hotel Potsdam City is a large modern hotel on the Lange Brucke.
Luxury rooms are available in the following hotels: Hotel Bayriches House on Im Wildpark / Elisenweg 2, Hotel am Brandenburger Tor on Brandenburger Strasse 1, NH Folteire Potsdam on Friedrich-Ebert-Strasse 88, Hotel Am Luisenplatz on Luisenplatz 5 and Hotel Ascot-Bristol on Asta-Nielsen-Strasse 2.,
For budget-conscious tourists, we can recommend hotels with the optimal combination of price and quality, and such in Potsdam are, for example: Wyndham Garden Potsdam on Forststrasse 80 and Kongresshotel am Templiner See on Am Luftschiffhafen 1.
