Potsdam Off The Beaten Path

Arriving in Potsdam from Berlin's two airports is relatively stress free. If you are coming from Tegel, you can take the S-Bahn to Potsdam via Friedrichstrasse in central Berlin (S25 then S7). From Schonefeld it's even easier - just take the hourly regional train direct to Potsdam. It takes less than an hour.

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As Potsdam is almost a suburb of Berlin it would be strange to stay here and not visit the German capital. It's only a half hour journey away and very easily reached by suburban train (S-Bahn). It's not even that expensive. You can buy a day ticket covering Potsdam (Area C) for only a little more than it costs for central Berlin.

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We saw this fantastic castle from the ferry. It is apparently called Peacock Island Palace.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

The island is on the lake called the Havelsee, and was a park was created as an expansion and enhancement of the New Garden. In keeping with the spirit of the times, it was intended as a place where one could live in harmony with nature. During the 19th century, Peacock Island was
redesigned by Peter Joseph Lenné as part of the Potsdam cultural landscape.

King Frederick William II had a small, romantic, white Palace, in a half-timber style with two
towers, built on the west side of the island. It was intended to be an eye catcher for the
ships going by, even from afar.

April – October, Tues. – Sun.
Dairy: May – October, daily

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The Dragon House on the southern slope of Klausberg was built at the same time as the Belvedere and was designed to imitate a Chinese pagoda.
It is a reflection of Frederick's the Great enthusiasm for Chinese architecture ( see the Tea House in the Sanssouci Park).
The house, built on the octagonal plan, owes its name to the sixteen dragons placed on its roofs.
Now it houses a restaurant and cafe that serves both German and international cuisine.

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Belvedere on the Klausberg hill was the last construction that Frederick the Great had built (1770 -1772). The word 'Belvedere' means in fact a pretty view and the name was chosen because of the nice view the place offered over the Sanssouci park.
Built on a round floor plan, the building is surrounded by two levels of columns. The dome at its top is decorated with figures of some divinities.
Belvedere was heavily destryed during WWII and recently rebuilt.
It is a venue of some concerts and theatrical performances. When we visited it an amateur (?) drama group had its rehearsal here.

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From the main palace in Sans-Soussi you can see a hill topped by some ruins.
This is what Friedrich fancied to see from his palace windows. And if there were no ruins there in the first place, he had them built for him.

The walk uphill to Ruinenberg takes about 15 minutes, and is quite pleasant. When you get to the artificial ruins themselves, they look somewhat pathetic. It's a pity one cannot climb them to get a commanding view of the surroundings. If you've had enough of elegant palaces and want something a bit different, try ruinenberg!

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Opposite the new palace in the Sanssouci Royal Park is this rather grand building that was the servant’s quarters. Designed by Knobelsdorff in 1747 it has 88 corinthian double columns arranged in 2 quarter circles.

A large mushroom spotted on the verge on Koenigstrasse somewhere between Berliner Vorstadt and Berlin Wannsee.

At dusk, these verges, on the edges of woodland, are frequented by foraging Wildschwein (boar), which are so large that they have sometimes been mistaken for donkeys by passing motorists!! (I didn't make this up... I have it from a friendly local! :)