Gotische Bibliothek

The Gothic Library is an octagonal sandstone tower with arcades, a gilded spire, and an external spiral staircase in the New Garden. Its compact design displays typical gothic elements and now serves as an architectural monument.

King Friedrich Wilhelm II commissioned architect Carl Gotthard Langhans to build it between 1792 and 1794 as part of his garden plan. The structure emerged during a period when gothic design was experiencing a revival.

The collection once displayed French literature on the ground floor and German classics upstairs, reflecting the literary tastes of that era. Today, the building's design still reveals how architecture shaped the intellectual interests of the time.

The upper floor remains closed to visitors, but you can view the ground floor through the windows and explore the exterior structure. The external spiral staircase offers different viewing angles of the building from all sides.

During World War II, bomb damage caused the building to lean toward the water, earning it the nickname 'Leaning Tower of Potsdam'. This tilt remains a visible trace of the war's impact on this royal garden structure.

Location: Potsdam

Inception: 1790s

Architects: Carl Gotthard Langhans

Made from material: sandstone

Part of: New Garden, Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin

GPS coordinates: 52.40642,13.06699

Latest update: December 13, 2025 11:46