Ruinenberg

Ruinenberg is an artificial ruins garden on a Sanssouci Park hilltop featuring a Norman Tower, Roman columns, a Doric rotunda, and theatrical structures among mature trees. The elements spread across the height and form a carefully planned ensemble of architecture and nature.

Frederick the Great commissioned the site in 1748 as a water reservoir for Sanssouci fountains, but technical difficulties led to it becoming a decorative ruins garden instead. This transformation helped establish architecture as an artistic element within the larger park design.

The site blends ancient Roman design elements with medieval influences in ways you can observe while walking among the mature trees. This combination shows how garden designers of the 1700s wove European history into their creative plans.

The hilltop is reachable on foot via several pathways that climb from different parts of the park, some quite steep. Comfortable shoes are important since the ascent can be tiring and some areas are uneven.

Water basins on the hilltop mirror the surrounding architectural structures, creating optical effects that guide a visitor's gaze. These reflecting surfaces were an intentional design trick to make the artificial ruins appear more striking within the interplay of water and light.

Location: Potsdam

Inception: 1748

Architects: Peter Joseph Lenné

Elevation above the sea: 74.1 m

Part of: Sanssouci Palace

GPS coordinates: 52.40993,13.03863

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:01