The City of Kings with a Bright tomorrow – Potsdam

February 12, 2018 Rihards Gederts No comments exist

Potsdam, Germany is something more than a city of past, it’s a bright, warm and beautiful city of tomorrow. A city that once was a home to many Prussian kings and the German Kaiser. The city is also a great mix of developed infrastructure, orderly environment and just a pleasant place to be. Potsdam is a city on the border of Berlin and it’s also the capital and largest city of the German federal state of Brandenburg! Urban Treetops team arrived in Potsdam from Riga, Latvia and we were surprised about how welcoming this city is. The residential housing stock we renovated in a superb way. 

Our arrival at the Potsdam Hauptbahnhof which is is the main station in the city of Potsdam. Unfortunately, we do not see such a view in Riga, however, it’s a pretty usual sight to see in a Western European city – bicycles are everywhere.

 

Potsdam Hauptbahnhof is the main station in the city of Potsdam, Germany.
Potsdam Hauptbahnhof is the main station in the city of Potsdam, Germany.

Just in 10 minutes from the main railway station, you will reach the old town of Potsdam. If you are using a bike it’s even faster!

Alte fahrt Potsdam.
Alte Fahrt Potsdam.

Potsdam surprised us with its splendor, while at the same time the city is modern and easily accessible to day-to-day services.

Freundschaftsinsel - Friendship Island.
Freundschaftsinsel – Friendship Island.

The Havel river looks gorgeous, especially in a warm autumn day! A large flow of tourists is moving towards the old town part of Potsdam.

The Old Market Square is a located in downtown Potsdam which forms the historical center.
The Old Market Square is a located in downtown Potsdam which forms the historical center.

Alter Markt or The Old Market Square is a square in downtown Potsdam that forms the historical center of Potsdam. The square located around the St. Nicholas’ Church and it consists of several landmark buildings!

The Old Town square almost always is full of tourists.
The Old Town square almost always is full of tourists.

We found this place to be very monumental and impressive. Especially the St. Nicholas Church, designed by well-known Prussian architect and city planner Karl Friedrich Schinkel.

The beginning of Dutch Quarter in Potsdam.
The beginning of Dutch Quarter in Potsdam.

The beginning of Dutch quarter. The area of so-called “Dutch quarter” is considered as Europe’s largest housing stock of Dutch-style buildings outside of the Netherlands.

More than 100 buildings of Dutch-style homes are located in the Dutch quarter.
More than 100 buildings of Dutch-style homes are located in the Dutch quarter.

Our team concluded that Dutch Quarter is one of the coolest places in Potsdam. The architecture and community feeling in this area is superb.

Peter and Paul church.
Peter and Paul church.

Potsdam Old town and downtown neighborhood area is a great place for Sunday’s stroll with your family or friends!

Brandenburger street is one of the most active streets in Potsdam.
Brandenburger street is one of the most active streets in Potsdam.

With many cool coffee shops, restaurants, and retail outlets Brandenburger street is one of the most active streets for local inhabitants and tourists.

 

The charm of Brandenburger street is something between the best of old and new traditions. A balanced mix of cultural expressions adds up to a neighborhood scene that feels equally hip and historic.

 

Narrow cobblestone streets in the Potsdam Ol town neighborhood.
Narrow cobblestone streets in the Potsdam Ol town neighborhood.

Narrow cobblestone streets are well maintained and fits well into the landscape of Old Town and Downtown neighborhood.

The Potsdamer Brandenburger Gate is situated at the western end of Brandenburger street.
The Potsdamer Brandenburger Gate is situated at the western end of Brandenburger street.

The Potsdamer Brandenburger Gate is situated at the western end of Brandenburger street and The Roman Catholic Church of St. Peter and Paul and ends the Brandenburger Street to the east.

2 and 3 story buildings in Potsdam.
2 and 3 story buildings in Potsdam.

More established residents of Potsdam set the small-town pace although Potsdam is a decent size city. Beautifully maintained brick buildings only add the story like appeal to the city. 

Luisenplatz looks great in a beautiful autumn day.
Luisenplatz looks great in a beautiful autumn day.

The city offers diverse shopping and catering options, parks, culture and history options are all yours at the weekend!

 

Fountain Luisenplatz - A great place where to spend your summer day!
Fountain Luisenplatz – A great place where to spend you summer day!

The city with more than 160 thousand inhabitants is a place for people who love calm and cultural life. We are recommending Potsdam for couples and families with children.

Entrance into Park Sanssouci.
Entrance into Park Sanssouci.

One of the entrances to Park Sanssouci. The park surrounds the famous Sanssouci Palace and it offers gorgeous landscape views and diverse fauna. 

Entrance into Park Sanssouci.
Entrance into Park Sanssouci.

This was probably one of the most mesmerizing experiences while we were in Germany. The park is very beautiful and majestic. The Park Sanssouci is definitely one of the most beautiful places in Europe – a super great place for one day walking tour with your friends or family!

Fountain in the Sanssouci park
Fountain in the Sanssouci park.

We loved every moment of being in Sanssouci park.

Sanssouci Park is a great place for walking and clearing your mind.
Sanssouci Park is a great place for walking and clearing your mind.

Picturesque and story like feeling never left us while we were walking through Sanssouci Park. It’s very well maintained and preserved environment.

Sanssouci palace complex

The alley that connects with Sanssouci palace.
The alley that connects with Sanssouci palace.

Built-in 1747 Sanssouci is the summer palace of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia and the palace was designed by Prussian architect Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff. The palace complex and the park reminded us of Palace of Versailles in France.

A beautiful autumn day in Sanssouci park.
A beautiful autumn day in Sanssouci park.

The Sanssouci park was full of tourists, families and local residents enjoying the warm and sunny autumn day. This is a great example of how to attract the surrounding community to historic landmark sites. Not every city is successful at this, therefore we can say good work Potsdam! 

A fountain in Sanssouci park.
A fountain in Sanssouci park.
Stairs to Sanssouci park and the terracing of the vineyard.
Stairs to Sanssouci park and the terracing of the vineyard.

A romantic stairway designed in baroque style will give you a better understanding of how the life of kings must have been more than a hundred years ago. 

The terracing of the vineyard
The terracing of the vineyard.

 

Sanssouci palace carries a big part of Potsdam's history
Sanssouci palace carries a big part of Potsdam’s history.

Sanssouci palace carries a big part of Potsdam’s history when the city was a home for the kings of Prussia. The city planning and architecture of Potsdam reminds us about the age of Enlightenment.

The Orangery Palace is a palace located in the Sanssouci Park.
The Orangery Palace is a palace located in the Sanssouci Park.

Built-in 1864 Orangerieschloss or The Orangery Palace is a palace located in the Sanssouci Park and it surprised us by the amazing architectural style.

The Orangery Palace from the front side.
The Orangery Palace from the front side.
The garden next to The Orangery Palace.
The garden next to The Orangery Palace.
The front yard of The Orangery Palace, Potsdam.
The front yard of The Orangery Palace, Potsdam.

After entering into the courtyard of The Orangery Palace you will be taken over by the feeling as if you were in Italy or in some other Southern European country. The surrounding garden is truly beautiful and diverse.

An alley full of trees leads to Belvedere on the Klausberg.
An alley full of trees leads to Belvedere on the Klausberg.

Next on the list is the romantic building named – Belvedere on the Klausberg. The alley that is full of trees will lead you to Belvedere on the Klausberg. At the end, you will see a beautiful landscape of the park and surrounding areas. 

The alley of trees that leads to Belvedere on the Klausberg.
The alley of trees that leads to Belvedere on the Klausberg.

This was a breathtaking stroll and the right place for taking photos!

Belvedere auf dem Klausberg.
Belvedere on the Klausberg.

Beautiful Belvedere with a great view of the park Sanssouci. It is open only during special events make the palace complex more diverse. The mix of palace buildings is truly remarkable. 

 

The New Palace complex

The New Palace is located at a western side of Sanssouci Park.
The New Palace is located at the western side of Sanssouci Park.

 

Neues Palais or The New Palace is a palace situated in Sanssouci park and it was built in 1769. This Prussian Baroque style palace will surprise you by its large size and sophisticated architecture.

 

Panorama view of The New Palace complex.
Panorama view of The New Palace complex.
It's all about symbols and details of the greatness of Prussia.
It’s all about symbols and details of the greatness of Prussia.
Alley that leads to New Palace, Potsdam.
Alley that leads to New Palace, Potsdam.

 

Similar to the rest of the Sanssouci park, also the alleys and walking paths that are leading to The New Palace are great for walking. There are just so many beautiful details that you will never get bored. 

Facade of The New Palace.
Facade of The New Palace.

 

The area around The New Palace is facing some renovation works. The palace complex was full of tourists but thankfully not too many!

 

The New Palace site is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The New Palace site is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Once home to kings of Prussia nowadays it’s open to the public and everyone who wants can enjoy the majesty and monumentality which surrounds this place.

Very specific symbolism is used in the decor of the palace.
Very specific symbolism is used in the decor of the palace.

Prussia shaped the history of Germany as well as the rest of Europe. When you are walking through this palace complex you can feel the grandiosity of history.

Renovation works are periodically done in The New Palace complex.
Renovation works are periodically done in The New Palace complex.

 

Renovation works are periodically done to maintain this historic landmark of The New Palace complex.

 

Comuns at the New Palace of Sanssouci.
Comuns at the New Palace of Sanssouci.

 

Opposite to the New Palace, you will find Triumph gate with its pavilion buildings. A well preserved historical evidence of the strength of Prussia. 

 

Well preserved architecture of communs at the New Palace of Sanssouci.
Well preserved architecture of communs at the New Palace of Sanssouci.
Thankfully, The New Palace complex is open to the eye of the public.
Thankfully, The New Palace complex is open to the eye of the public.

The New Palace with its communs definitely is showing how important, impactful and strong Prussia used to be.

This is a very impressive place - The New Palace Complex with its communs.
This is a very impressive place – The New Palace Complex with its communs.

Last but not least we visited Chinesisches Haus or Chinese house which is a garden pavilion in Sanssouci Park. Again we were surprised by the details and the richness of the imagination when the building was built.

Chinese house at Sanssouci Park.
Chinese house at Sanssouci Park.
The spectacular details and golden columns of Chinese house at Sanssouci Park.
The spectacular details and golden columns of Chinese house at Sanssouci Park.

Conclusion

Just Wow! The city of Potsdam is a place where most of the people would like to live. It’s so rich of history, culture, and traditions that many cities would be jealous. We also greatly appreciated the modern touch of the city because we found many great restaurants and coffee shops. Additionally, the transportation connection with Berlin is very efficient. Most of the housing stock is very well maintained and preserved in a great quality as far as we were able to evaluate from the outside. Therefore, Urban Treetops real estate team can say: Yes, Potsdam is a City of Kings with a Bright tomorrow. So we are safely recommending this beautiful city: Work, live and study in Potsdam, Germany!


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