POTSDAM
General
Information
History I
Sightseeing I
Practical I Hotels in Potsdam
Potsdam
is an independent city, close to Berlin, with a population of almost
138.000 inhabitants. Since the reunification of Germany it is also the
capital of the Land Brandenburg.
Potsdam lies just to the south-west of Berlin in an idyllic landscape of
woods and lakes. The old royal capital of the Hohenzollern dynasty
expresses the Prussian spirit, combining strict discipline with a
pronounced fondness for French culture and style. Today, Potsdam as a
whole is a work of art made up of landscaped gardens, parks and palaces.
The city blossomed during the time of
the
Great Electors and again in the 18th century.
Potsdam suffered badly during World War II, especially on the night of
14-15 april 1945. During the night allied planes bombed the centre of
the town. Of course the Prussian kings and
emperors didn't need to spend three centuries creating a
beautifully
harmonious landscape of palaces, parks, hills and lakes for their summer
residences, but latter-day seekers of relaxation and beauty will surely
agree with their more famous predecessor. Just over half an hour by
train from the centre of Berlin, the former summer residences of the
Prussian court are an ideal day trip destination.
Sans Souci, the palace
of king Friedrich Der Grosse is perhaps
the most famous monument in Potsdam. The New
Palace, Cecilienhof or any of the smaller palaces are just as worthy of
a visit, and usually a lot less crowded. Equally charming is the town
itself, which owes its jumble of Prussian, French, Dutch and Russian
archictecture to the cultural diversity of successive Prussian courts.
In the back streets one can see the marvels of modern
German restoration techniques at work.
Many eating and drinking establishments are located along the main
pedestrian street (Brandenburger Straße), Also nice is a visit to the cafe at the
Film Museum while catching up on the history of German cinema.
Great Electors and again in the 18th century.
Potsdam suffered badly during World War II, especially on the night of
14-15 april 1945. During the night allied planes bombed the centre of
the town. Of course the Prussian kings and
emperors didn't need to spend three centuries creating a
beautifully
harmonious landscape of palaces, parks, hills and lakes for their summer
residences, but latter-day seekers of relaxation and beauty will surely
agree with their more famous predecessor. Just over half an hour by
train from the centre of Berlin, the former summer residences of the
Prussian court are an ideal day trip destination.
Sans Souci, the palace
of king Friedrich Der Grosse is perhaps
the most famous monument in Potsdam. The New
Palace, Cecilienhof or any of the smaller palaces are just as worthy of
a visit, and usually a lot less crowded. Equally charming is the town
itself, which owes its jumble of Prussian, French, Dutch and Russian
archictecture to the cultural diversity of successive Prussian courts.
In the back streets one can see the marvels of modern
German restoration techniques at work.
Many eating and drinking establishments are located along the main
pedestrian street (Brandenburger Straße), Also nice is a visit to the cafe at the
Film Museum while catching up on the history of German cinema.
 At
the Potsdam Conference (July 17 to August 2, 1945) the Big
Three Allied powers convened again to clarify and implement
agreements reached at Yalta earlier that year. The players had
changed significantly: Harry Truman had succeeded FDR, and before
the conference was over, the newly-elected Clement Attlee would
replace Winston Churchill. Potsdam divided postwar Germany into four
occupation zones, administered by Britain, France, the United States
and the Soviet Union, and reorganized Germany's institutions and
economy. The Allies also called for Japan to surrender or risk total
destruction. After the war, however, the goals of Potsdam were
increasingly undermined by the tensions and suspicions of the
gathering Cold War.
An overview of hotels in Potsdam.
Other German cities.
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