Nature Park Travel - Europe off the beaten track
Contact A-Z Search
home > Berlin > Potsdam
|
|
Nature Park Travel - Europe off the beaten track |
|
||
Contact A-Z Search |
|
|
home > Berlin > Potsdam |
|
|
Potsdam: Nikolai church City Trips: Berlin Germany - Potsdam |
In Potsdam, you visit palaces, gardens and parks shaped during three centuries, have a look behind the scenery of the Babelsberg film studios, stroll across the town center, travel by boat along the Havel river and lakes, or go on a bike trip. Potsdam's parks are part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Albert Einstein owned a summer house in Caputh (Potsdam station, S1, or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten, then bus 607 or regional train 22 to Caputh-Schwielowsee or Caputh-Geltow).
Built from 1919 to 1924 at the back of Potsdam's station, the Sonnenobservatorium - solar observatory - on Telegrafenberg hill was used to research the flection of light in the sun's gravity zone predicted by Einstein's theory of relativity (Potsdam station, S1, or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten). You can visit the Sonnenobservatorium from October to March on appointment, researchers work in the observatory during the summer months. >> printed travel guides & maps >> addresses & links >> accommodation, hotels >> Berlin Potsdam Palaces and ParksFrom the 17th to the 20th century Potsdam and Berlin were the seat of the Brandenburg's electors, the Prussian kings and German emperors. Through three centuries, Berlin's leading architects and landscape gardeners designed the palaces, gardens and parks along the shores of the Havel and the Havel lakes surrounding Potsdam. Built for the Elector Friedrich Wilhelm von Brandenburg on the South bank of the Havel river, the Early Baroque Schloss Caputh is Potsdam's oldest preserved palace (Potsdam station, S1, or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten, then bus 607 or regional train 22 to Caputh-Schwielowsee or Caputh-Geltow). In Caputh you visit Albert Einstein's summer house. Resembling a Dutch mansion, the Jagdschloss Stern hunting lodge was built for the "soldiers' king" Friedrich Wilhelm I (Jagdhausstrasse, Griebnitzsee station, S1, or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten, then bus 694). Today's Potsdam was shaped by Friedrich II "the Great" and the palace and park of Sanssouci - built from 1745 to 1747 by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff in French Rococo style (Potsdam station, S1, then bus 695, X15 or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten). At the Sacrower See lake the Late Baroque Schloss Sacrow palace dates back to 1773 - King Friedrich Wilhelm IV used the palace from 1840 onwards (ferry from Wannsee station, S1, S7, or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten, there is an alternative route by bus 697 from Potsdam, Am Schragen, from here tram 90, 92, 95 takes you to Potsdam S-train station, S1). In 1794 the Romantic Palace on Pfaueninsel island was put up (Wannsee station, S1, S7, or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten, then bus 216, 316 and ferry). The Classicist Marmorpalais in Neue Garten was built from 1783 to 1793 for King Friedrich Wilhelm II (Potsdam station, S1, or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten, then bus 692). 19 year old Karl Friedrich Schinkel designed his first building in 1801 : the Pomona-Tempel on Potsdam's Pfingstberg mountain . From 1847 to 1863 the 'viewpoint' palace Belvedere was built on Pfingstberg, the architects were Ludwig Persius, Friedrich Stueler and Ludwig Ferdinand Hesse (Potsdam station, S-train S1, or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten, bus 638/6, 691, 692, 697 or tram 92, stations Pfingstberg, Am Schragen). Schloss Glienicke palace dates back to 1824. For Prince Carl von Preussen, Karl Friedrich Schinkel designed the palace in the style of an Italian mansion. (Wannsee station, S1, S7 or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten, then bus 116). From 1826 onwards Karl Friedrich Schinkel built the Classicist Schloss Charlottenhof palace - a present for Friedrich Wilhelm IV by King Friedrich Wilhelm II (Potsdam station, S1, then tram 96, or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten). In 1833 Karl Friedrich Schinkel began to built the Neo-Gothic Schloss Babelsberg palace - here Emperor Wilhelm I lived when he was crown prince (Babelsberg, Potsdam or Griebnitzsee station, S-train S1, or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten, then bus 694 or walk across Babelsberg's old town from Babelsberg station). Between Babelsberg S-train station and Babelsberg palace park you pass Garnstrasse (Yarn Street), Tuchmacherstrasse (Clothier Street), Spindelstrasse (Spindle Street), Wollestrasse (Wool Street) and Weberplatz (Weaver Square) - in the Nowawes quarter King Friedrich II settled Bohemian weavers and spinners. The renovated houses date back to 1750. At the turn of the 19th century, nights in Berlin were well lit - Berlin's observatory, designed by Friedrich Karl Schinkel and built from 1832 to 1835 in Kreuzberg, therefore moved to Babelsberg in 1913. You can visit the observatory built from 1911 to 1913 at the corner of Babelsberg's palace park (Babelsberg, Potsdam, or Griebnitzsee station, S1, or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten, then bus 694 to 'Sternwarte'). King Friedrich Wilhelm IV planned Lindstedt palace near Sanssouci as old-age residence, he bought the site in 1828, the palace was built from 1858 to 1860, the king died in 1861 (Potsdam station, S1, or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten, then bus 695). Schloss Cecilienhof palace in the Neue Garten park is the last of Potsdam's palaces - Emperor Wilhelm II had it built for his son, Crown Prince Wilhelm, from 1913 to 1917. In the 1920's, Crown Prince Wilhelm returned from exile in the Netherlands, he lived in Schloss Cecilienhof with his family up to 1945. In 1945, Stalin, Truman and Churchill replaced by Attlee negotiated and signed the Potsdam Agreement in Schloss Cecilienhof. You can visit the conference rooms, 1945's interior has been preserved (Neuer Garten, Potsdam station, S1, or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten, then bus 692).
Potsdam's parks were remodeled in the 19th century by the landscape gardener Peter Joseph Lenné. The son of the Woerlitz garden architect Johann August Eyserbeck designed the Neue Garten north-east of Potsdam's city center modeled on the park in Woerlitz (Potsdam station, S1, then bus 692). The palaces and parks of Potsdam and Berlin are part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Go to Potsdam when the weather is nice and take at least one day off - just Sanssouci Park boasts 37 miles of hiking and cycling trails. You get a good view of the parks, the Havel river and the lakes from the Flatowturm tower in Babelsberg palace park (Babelsberg station, S1, or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten, then bus 694 or walk across Babelsberg's old town) and from the Casino in Schlosspark Glienicke (Wannsee station, S1, S7 or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten, then bus 116). From the Ruinenberg hill in Potsdam you look down at Sanssouci Park (Potsdam station, S1, or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten, then bus 695, X15 to Brentanoweg / Schloss Sanssouci). You also get a good view on Potsdam's parks from the Pfingstberg mountain (Potsdam station, S-train S1, or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten, bus 638/6, 691, 692, 697 or tram 92, stop Pfingstberg or Am Schragen). From the boat piers at Wannsee station and at Lange Bruecke bridge near Potsdam station you travel by boat along the river Havel across the Havel lakes to Babelsberg Park, to Caputh, to Glienicke, Sacrow, to Pfaueninsel island, to Cecilienhof and to Sanssouci Park (Potsdam station, S1, Wannsee station, S1, S7, or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten). In the former garden show site - Buga - near Pfingstberg you find the tropical garden "Biosphaere Potsdam". Along the Havel lake shore you find beaches to swim in summer. Babelsberg Film StudiosA the site of the Universum Film AG (UFA) in the Filmpark Babelsberg you have a look behind the scenery - e.g. into the cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Babelsberg station, S1, or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten, then bus 602, 690, 698), you visit the street of a Western movie, wash gold, watch a stunt show and get a chance to wear professional make up.
In the royal stables across Alte Markt the Potsdam Filmmuseum shows items of the estates of Zarah Leander, Lilian Harvey and Hans Albers. The museum takes you through Babelsberg film history, including Nazi films, the films of emigrated directors and GDR DEFA films (Potsdam station, S1, or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten). The villas of the UFA film stars are located at Griebnitzsee (Griebnitzsee station, S1, or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten). Potsdam City CenterStart off at Potsdam station, cross Lange Bruecke bridge, and continue to Alte Markt. At the Lange Bruecke you find the boat piers for trips on the Havel river and lakes. In the 1950's the landscape gardener Karl Foerster built bush and water gardens on the Freundschaftsinsel island below Lange Bruecke bridge. On the island you find an open air stage, a cafe, an exhibition pavillon and a boat rental. The Potsdam town palace of the "Great" Elector of Brandenburg stood at the Alte Markt - old market, the palace was destroyed by bombs in 1945. Today you see the Nikolai church at Alte Markt, modeled on London's St. Paul's Cathedral in 1830 by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, the Alte Rathaus - old council house - finished in 1755, the Knobelsdorff-Haus to the right was built in the middle of the 18th century, the stables - Marstall - across the square used to be part of the town palace. In the Marstall you find the Potsdam Film Museum. From Alte Markt walk along Friedrich-Ebert-Strasse, you arrive at the Neue Markt - new market.In the Kutschstall - coach house, built in 1671, the Haus der brandenburgisch-preussischen Geschichte - house of Brandenburg Prussian History - has moved in. Continue along Friedrich-Ebert-Strasse and turn into Yorckstrasse at Platz der Einheit square. On the right hand side you turn into Wilhelm-Staab-Strasse renovated in the 1950's in original 18th century style. The Nikolaisaal in Wilhelm-Staab-Strasse was reconstructed and extended in 1998, to be Potsdam's central concert hall. Walk along Wilhelm-Staab-Strasse and turn right into Charlottenstrasse. Follow Charlottenstrasse across Friedrich-Ebert-Strasse, you arrive at Bassin-Platz square. The French church at the corner was built from 1752 to 1753, the Peter and Paul church next door dates back to 1870. There is an open air market. At the back of Peter and Paul church you find Potsdam's Dutch quarter built from 1732 to 1742 for craftsmen recruited from the Netherlands. Continue from the Dutch quarter along Friedrich-Ebert-Strasse, at the end of the road you find the houses of forced artists. The Russian Colony Alexandrowka between Puschkin-Allee and Am Schragen was built in 1826 for 12 Russian singers, who came to Potsdam as prisoners of war in 1812 and had to remain as a present of the Tsar. You can visit one of the Russian houses. In the renovated house No 2 of the colony you find a museum, a bistro and a reconstructed 2382 square yard Lenné garden. The Russian Colony Alexandrowka is part of the UNESCO World Heritage.
Walk back along Friedrich-Ebert-Strasse and, near Bassin-Platz, turn right into Brandenburger Strasse - the pedestrian zone is Potsdam's main shopping center. At the end of Brandenburger Strasse at Luisenplatz you find the Potsdam Brandenburg Gate, from here an alley takes you to Schloss Sanssouci palace. Havel LakesFrom the boat piers at Wannsee station and at the Lange Bruecke bridge connecting Potsdam station to the town center boats go along the Havel river and lakes to Babelsberg Park, to Caputh, to Glienicke, to Sacrow, to Pfaueninsel island, to Cecilienhof and to Sanssouci Park (Potsdam station, S1, Wannsee station, S1, S7, or regional train RE1 from Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, Friedrichstrasse, Zoologischer Garten). Along the shores of the Havel lakes you find beaches to swim in summer.
By BicycleYou can take your bicycle in the S-trains, regional trains, trams, on the ferries and boats. Depending on your ticket type (with the tourist WelcomeCard, weekly or monthly tickets, to take a bicycle usually is included in the price) you may have to buy an additional ticket for your bike - ask the information at Potsdam station, the drivers or ticket collectors.
You can buy online the Maps of the German Bycicle Association. At Potsdam's station you can rent a bike. From Potsdam you cycle through the Neue Garten park on the right hand side of the Jungfernsee lake to the Glienicke Bruecke bridge. Or you take the tram no 93 to Glienicker Bruecke. West Berlin's border with the GDR ran across the Glienicker Bruecke, the bridge is famous for the exchange of spys that took place there. From Glienicker Bruecke you get a good view of Potsdam's Neue Garten, of Babelsberg, Glienicke and Sacrow. You cross the Glienicker Bruecke and turn right to Babelsberger Schloss palace, cycle around Griebnitzsee lake or turn left following the Havel river to the Schlosspark Glienicke park up to the ferry pier. You take the ferry to Pfaueninsel island and to Sacrow. You return by ferry and cycle to Wannsee station, or you go by boat from Sacrow to Potsdam. On a shorter tour, you start off at Wannsee station and cycle directly to the ferry pier. Along the shores of the Havel lakes you find quite a few locations to swim, Wannsee beach is very popular in summer. ... add this link to your website |
Berlin Today's City & the Berlin Myth Wellness, Swimming Pools, Rivers & Lakes For Children & Parents |
|||||
