Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin

The Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin form a landscape of castles and designed gardens spanning several hundred square kilometers along the Havel river. These ensembles display different architectural styles from the elegant Sanssouci to massive baroque gardens with ponds, canals, and wooded areas.

These landscapes developed between 1730 and 1916, when Prussian kings built their castles and gardens there following European models. After World War II, the grounds were divided until reunification in 1990 allowed restoration and UNESCO recognition.

The name Sanssouci means "without worries" and this spirit shows in the playful design of the rooms and gardens throughout. You can see artistic details everywhere—fountains, statues, and plantings—that reveal how Prussian rulers spent their leisure time and displayed their power.

Plan several days to visit the different palaces and their gardens, as they are spread across large areas. You can walk or use local transportation to move between sites and explore the landscape in between.

Many visitors don't know that the Neue Garten in Potsdam was one of the major English garden experiments of the 18th century. This park shows a completely different design philosophy from the baroque layouts and reveals changing tastes of the Prussian elite.