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Pyramide Potsdam built by Masons was used as an ice cellar!

Pyramide Potsdam built by Masons was used as an ice cellar!

Forget Egypt, there’s just as good a Pyramide Potsdam right at your doorstep! And probably, you will never guess its purpose. The pyramid was used as an ice cellar. During the winter, frozen lake ice was taken and stored on the floor of the cellar to keep things cool year-round. Today, this building is one of the most interesting in the Potsdam New Garden. Unfortunately, it is available to visit. However, outside you can see hieroglyphics and astrological signs as ornaments.

Table Of Contents
  1. It was built by Masons
  2. Part of Potsdam New Garden
  3. Pyramide Potsdam has hieroglyphics and astrological signs
  4. Recommended Experiences

It was built by Masons

The mystical building near the Marble Palace is part of a mystical garden largely built by Masons. Architects Carl Gotthard Langhans and Andreas Ludwig Krüger, as well as sculptors, were part of Masonic society. For this reason, the architecture of this pyramid doesn’t follow the purpose of the building. This pyramid is a refrigerator, commissioned in 1791 by Friedrich Wilhelm II and completed one year later. It was used to keep fresh perishable food. In winter, ice was taken from nearby Lake Heiliger See and stored in the lowest cellar level, which was about 5 meters below ground.

Part of Potsdam New Garden

The Pyramid shaped ice cellar is very original and probably one of the most interesting attractions in the Potsdam New Garden. In general, this park with over 100 hectares is protected by UNESCO. The most famous building is the Marble Palace and there are also Orangery with Egyptian entrance, Grotto,  Gothic Library, etc.

Pyramide Potsdam has hieroglyphics and astrological signs

Looking at this building, it’s hard to imagine that we are in Germany. Especially when you see the details of the pyramid – hieroglyphics and astrological signs as ornaments. However, the pyramid is in poor condition today and would need reconstruction in the near future.

Discover the most beautiful and interesting sights around Potsdam. Find, compare, and book sightseeing tours, attractions, excursions, things to do, and fun activities.

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Travel

Belvedere on the Klausberg, a very nice part of the Park Sanssouci

Belvedere on the Klausberg with Sanssouci Park and the Orangienschloss are perfect for all romantics. It looks like a little princess castle surrounded by greenery and great views of the park. In general, in the translation “Belvedere” means a beautiful view. Belvedere on Klausberg was built between 1770 and 1772. This building had the most difficult days at the end of World War II when it was destroyed by fire. However, after the unification of the two parts of Germany, the exterior and interior of the building were thoroughly renovated.

Table Of Contents
  1. History of Belvedere on the Klausberg
  2. Closed to the public

History of Belvedere on the Klausberg

Belvedere on the Klausberg is an attempt to reconstruct the imperial palace of Emperor Nero in Rome. The main builder was Georg Christian Unger according to the specifications of Friedrich II. He based his plans on a drawing by the Italian archaeologist Francesco Bianchini from his 1738 work – Del Palazzo de ‘Cesari. The two-story rotunda consists of 20 Ionic columns downstairs and 20 Corinthian columns upstairs. Also, the dome is decorated with statues of twenty figures of deities. The upstairs gallery can only be accessed by a curved double staircase.

After a direct hit with artillery bombings in the last days of World War II, the Belvedere was burned to the ground. After the unification of Germany, it was restored by the Messerschmitt-Stiftung Foundation. Renovation of the interior lasted from 1990 to 2002, and after that, the building shone as in the original condition.

Closed to the public

Unfortunately, the palace is closed for visits. It is only open on special occasions. But it’s worth seeing outside as well. Most of the ground floor remained as it was after the fire, showing photographs of the poor condition after the fire. This great place gives you the opportunity to enjoy the silence, nature and beautiful view. I believe these are good reasons to visit this building while visiting the magnificent Potsdam.

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Attractions

Flatow Tower in Babelsberg Park, a spectacular neo-gothic architecture

Anyone who wants to visit Babelsberger Park must visit Flatow Tower in Babelsberg. Actually, the whole Babelsberg Park is very beautiful in architectural terms thanks to the natural elevations so you will enjoy walking among all these attractions. If you want to escape from everyday life this is the perfect destination. But most people visit it to enjoy one of the most beautiful views of Potsdam. This neo-Gothic tower is 46 meters high. The front door is usually closed, don’t be shy to enter!

Table Of Contents
  1. History of Flatow Tower in Babelsberg
  2. Robberies after 1945
  3. Visit information

History of Flatow Tower in Babelsberg

Flatow Tower in Babelsberg was built from 1853 to 1856 for Kaiser Wilhelm I. The architect was Johann Heinrich Strack, the same architect who completed the Babelsberg Palace. In general, the Tower fits into the overall concept of the medieval Babelsberg Park. The inspiration was a medieval 15th-century tower near the Eschenheimer Gate in Frankfurt am Main. The tower is 46 meters high and is built in the neo-Gothic style. It was named after the Flatow estate in West Prussia, which belonged to Prince Wilhelm. From the income of that property, he financed the construction of the tower.

Robberies after 1945

At the end of World War II, the Flatow Tower was badly damaged. Also, additional problems were numerous robberies and vandalism after 1945. It was finally restored in 1986 and subsequently opened to the public.

Visit information

The permanent exhibition provides information on the history of the tower and the history of Babelsberg Park. During winter working hours (1 November 2019 – 30 April 2020) the castle is closed on Sundays and Mondays, while during summer working hours (1 May 2020 – 31 October 2020) the castle is closed on Mondays and Fridays. The ticket for the castle costs 4 euros. All other information can be found on the official site – FLATOWTURM IM PARK BABELSBERG.

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Holländisches Viertel, a piece of Dutch architecture in Potsdam!

In addition to magnificent palaces, Potsdam is known for its Dutch Quarter (Holländisches Viertel), unique in Germany as well as in Europe. It consists of 4 blocks with a total of 134 brick houses. The Quarter was built for the Dutch masters who came to work in Potsdam at the invitation of Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm I, known as the “Soldier King”. Today, this is definitely a nice and relaxing way to spend the afternoon walking through the old streets and do a little shopping at unique shops. Also, you can stop in to eat at one of the many outdoor restaurants or cafes.

Table Of Contents
  1. History and Jan Bouman
  2. Holländisches Viertel/Dutch Quarter today

History and Jan Bouman

The Dutch Quarter (Holländisches Viertel) was built between 1734 and 1742. The architect was Dutchman Jan Bouman who tried to attract the Dutch workers to join him and work for the German emperor. One of the houses today is a museum with its name. The original plan was to give houses to Dutch immigrants. However, not enough number of immigrants moved to Potsdam as planned. Also, some returned to the Netherlands after completing the expansion of the city. Therefore, many houses were given to French and Prussian traders, artists and grenadiers.

Until the fall of the Berlin Wall, the whole Dutch Quarter was in a very sad condition. The change of government created conditions for the reconstruction and revival of the whole settlement. The Dutch royal family helped in this reconstruction.

Holländisches Viertel/Dutch Quarter today

Today, the whole area is perfect for shopping and walking. Many small shops, restaurants, cafes, and pubs invite you to visit a small piece of Dutch architecture in Potsdam! The only thing missing is water channels for a complete Dutch ambient. Also, expect to see plenty of cars and bikes parked on both sides of the streets. However, the entire pedestrian zone is extremely quiet and you will not find many tourists. If you want to explore the interior of these houses and find out more information, visit the Jan Bouman Haus. Also, for a visit, I recommend the Urania planetarium and Burgel Memorial.

Holländisches Viertel hosts festivals several times a year. The most famous is the tulip festival in April. In addition, you can visit the Dutch Christmas Market during the December Advent and the Pottery market in September.

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Babelsberg Castle, a hidden gem of Prussian history

Babelsberg Castle is just one in a series of magnificent Potsdam palaces. Although I thought there was no other castle that could come close to the splendor of Sanssouci Palace, maybe I was wrong. The architecture of Bebelsber Palace is equally impressive and the view from the terrace is magnificent. One of the most important events for this place happened in 1862. Then there was a debate between the Prussian King William I and Otto von Bismarck at the palace and park, which ended with Bismarck’s nomination for Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Prussia. Also, since 1990, Babelsberg Palace has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Table Of Contents
  1. Architecture – English Gothic style
  2. Park of Babelsberg Castle

Architecture – English Gothic style

If you are interested in architecture, this is certainly one gem in Prussian history. The construction of the castle was in 2 stages and was designed in the English Gothic style. The first phase began construction in 1833 as the summer residence of Prince William – the later Kaiser William I. The architect of this part was Karl Friedrich Schinkel, one of the most famous German architects. In that first phase, a smaller part of the complex was built but Schinkel died in 1841. His work is taken over by architect Ludwig Persius.

Schinkel’s plans were in a distinctly Gothic style however Ludwig had to comply with the castle owner’s demands for many changes. However, Persuis also dies in 1845. Finally, the complex is completed by architect Johann Heinrich Strack. His architectural ideas were more suited to the client’s taste. After the west wing was completed, the second phase was finally completed in 1849. The final floor plan was S-shaped.

Park of Babelsberg Castle

The park and garden surrounding this palace are simply stunning. Some of the details that make it special are various sculptures, decorated flower beds, and a gothic fountain. The garden is designed in English style by Peter Joseph Lenné and Hermann Fürst von Pückler-Muskau. Also, the view of the river and lake overlooking the Glienicki Bridge (a bridge also called the spy exchange bridge) is amazing. Definitely, landscape architecture is something that makes this area extremely romantic.

I recommend spending some time in the castle, where you can read about the development and challenges of creating gardens. All other information can be found at the links below.

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Travel

What are the best places to visit in Potsdam? One-day trip

What are the best places to visit in Potsdam? Let’s start! Saturday morning and I’m late. The train station at Alexanderplatz Berlin crowded as always. Our transport is coming and it is a double-decker train which made me so happy to experience it for the first time. The ride to Potsdam was really fun. Going through all these different neighborhoods made the ride much more interesting and faster than we expected it to be. Potsdam station and here we are. Let’s start with the best places to visit in Potsdam!

Table Of Contents
  1. FIRST IMPRESSION
  2. PARK SANSSOUCI
  3. STICK TO THE PLAN
  4. WE'LL BE BACK AGAIN THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN POTSDAM

FIRST IMPRESSION

After all the photos of the historic old town that we saw, we ended up at the modern train station/shopping centre. It was all really surprising, but it didn’t take us long to get to the old part which can be seen very easily from anywhere because of the cathedral’s dome. The city square which looks like a mixture of Paris and Rome is just a grain of Potsdam’s rich history. We made a rough plan of things that we want to visit before we came to Potsdam, but with the sightseeing, you never know where it will take you.

PARK SANSSOUCI

Walking down the city streets, it wasn’t hard to find our first stop. The Dutch Quarter. All of a sudden we found ourselves in the street that looks like we are in Amsterdam. Houses made of red brick, with pointy facades that decorate the street one after the other. It took us to another country and another year. We made a circle around the quarter and continued our way to the main attraction. Park was made back in the 18th century and once again, we were in another country. This time it was France because this park is a German version of Versailles. Fun fact, Sans Souci means without worry, because it was made as a royal residence for the king to rest.

Park is full of surprises and we couldn’t catch a breath because behind every corner there was something new and exciting for us to see. From churches, beautiful alleys, palaces, pavilions, windmill, lakes, … It takes a whole day just to see this park and all its beauty. We were a little bit in a hurry because days were still short and there was a lot to see. Neues Palais, the most beautiful palace in the park is located at the end like a cherry on top. We were amazed by the whole park even though some parts were still closed or in the reconstruction process to get ready for summer. Definitely, the whole park is one of the best places to visit in Potsdam.

STICK TO THE PLAN

The second part of our Potsdam trip looked more like a trip into nature. A little bit of climbing up the hill and a little bit of walking by the lake. You never know what beautiful buildings this city hides in its woods until you discover them. On one hill we found monumental Greek building and in another moment, we were standing by the black Egypt pyramid by the lake. The night was slowly coming and we were still walking around the lake overlooking the city and its urban villas. This part of the city really gives you a rich suburb vibe.

There was still a part of our plan that we wanted to visit so we needed to hurry up. We crossed the old green bridge and continued our way to the castles. It was totally worth it because these old castles are amazing and are located on the hill with a beautiful view. This time, we were in England, standing by the old brick castles with a lot of towers pointing towards the sky. It was already dark so we made our way down the hill and back to the town to catch the train to Berlin.

WE’LL BE BACK AGAIN THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN POTSDAM

Impressed, tired and happy. That was our way back home. We didn’t say a thing, but we knew that this was a great day with pictures running through our heads. This was not the end. We both agreed to come back again one day during the summer, to see this beautiful city in all its green and floral glory. Which are your best places to visit in Potsdam?

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