Sanssouci Palace

Sanssouci Palace is a Frederician Rococo summer residence on a terraced vineyard in Potsdam. The single-story building holds ten principal rooms with gilded surfaces and large windows offering views over the garden terraces and surrounding parkland.

Frederick the Great commissioned architect Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff to design the residence, and construction took place from 1745 to 1747. The king personally chose the vineyard site and used the palace as a private retreat during the summer months.

The design merges French garden traditions with Prussian forms and uses the hillside vineyard to create an open connection between the rooms and the landscape outside. Visitors notice the name, which means "without worries," reflecting the private retreat atmosphere the king wanted for himself.

Access is through the terraced vineyards, and visitors should plan for stairs and wear comfortable shoes. The building opens in summer from April to October and in winter from November to March with shorter hours.

The mortal remains of Frederick the Great were reinterred on the uppermost vineyard terrace in 1991, fulfilling his final wish. Visitors often find small potatoes placed on the grave, a reference to his promotion of potato cultivation in Prussia.

Location: Potsdam

Inception: 1745

Architects: Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff

Official opening: 1747

Architectural style: Frederician Rococo

Elevation above the sea: 40 m

Accessibility: Wheelchair limited access

Fee: Yes

Charge: 12 EUR

Part of: Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin

Address: Maulbeerallee, 14469 Potsdam

Opening Hours: April-October: Holidays,Tuesday-Sunday 9:00-17:30; November-May: Holidays,Tuesday-Sunday 9:00-16:30; January 01 11:00-16:30; December 24,December 25 off; December 26 10:00-16:30; December 31 10:00-14:00

Phone: +493319694222

Website: https://spsg.de/en/chateaux-et-jardins-prussiens-informations-en-francais

GPS coordinates: 52.40326,13.03863

Latest update: December 27, 2025 16:54