San Souci - the summer residence of the soldier king

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Each monarch or ruler tried to surpass his predecessor. So it was in Ancient Egypt, when monuments were erected, and in the Middle Ages in Europe and Russia, when emperors tried to conquer more, build more cities, build the richest palace or residence. This fate did not bypass Germany under King Frederick the Great. Sanssouci vineyards originated in the Bornsted Hills. And then the palace and all the other buildings were already built.

History of gardens

Potsdam was founded on swampy soil, and King Frederick needed materials to strengthen the soil. He ordered the cutting down of the oaks growing along the paths of the Bornsted Hills. Instead of trees, vineyards were planted in 1744. In 1745, an ornamental garden with a large fountain was laid out under the hill. In the same year, construction began on the palace, or, as the king called it, a small vineyard house. After the completion of the construction of the main structures, they began to develop the surroundings and build them up. So appearedSanssouci Palace Park.

It should be said that Frederick the Great had ascetic inclinations and a peculiar taste. The first forced him to check every item of expenditure and avoid excesses. The second is not to recognize fashion trends. The buildings were built in the rococo style, while classicism already dominated Europe.

Small vineyard house

The Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam was conceived not only as a private residence. Women were not allowed into the house, including the wife of the king. In general, the architecture is very well thought out and tied to the area. To the right of the building is the Picture Gallery, and to the left is the New Chambers. The palace has no basement. This innovation (or rather the desire of the monarch) made it possible to immediately get into the garden, without wasting time on tedious transitions through stairs and galleries. By the standards of that time, the palace was small - it had only a few halls and rooms for guests. Sanssouci Palace is the best way to embody the desire of Frederick the Great to have a summer residence and at the same time not disturb the beauty of the surrounding nature.

In memory of the architectural creation in the Czech Republic there is a hotel with the same name. It is located in the resort area of Karlovy Vary. The Sanssouci Hotel does not look like an old residence. Royal luxury can only be judged by interior amenities and service.

Park near Sanssouci Palace

The palace park was also carefully thought out by Frederick the Great, just like the residence itself. ATaround the vineyards, an ornamental garden was laid out, consisting of lawns, flower beds and tree plantations. Fruit plantations were planted, greenhouses were built for growing exotic fruits. The total area of the park is 290 hectares, the length of all alleys and paths is 70 kilometers. Sanssouci Palace Park is rightfully considered the largest monument of architectural and garden art in Brandenburg.

At the top of the hill, artificial ruins and a fountain were created to feed the vineyards with water. However, the masters made a mistake in the calculations, and the water pressure was not enough for the intended purpose. In addition, structures were erected in the park, which today make up its architectural ensemble. These are the Grotto of Neptune, the New Palace, the Tea House, the Ancient Temple, the Temple of Friendship, the House with Dragons, the Art Gallery and many others.

Complements the picture Windmill, which brings the residence closer to the style of the countryside. In it you can not only admire the beautiful view, but also learn about the technology of making bread. The most remarkable in the park is the Tea House. However, the exterior decoration is much more interesting than the interior. For lovers of garden art, the Marley Garden will be of interest.

Sans Souci today

Today, the palace and park are open to tourists. The service staff tries to preserve all natural and architectural objects in their original form. Pictures from the gallery are periodically restored. There has been a gradual restoration in the park since 1964. Thanks towith this care, all parts of Sanssouci are open to the public all year round.

Tourist information

Getting to the palace and the park is easy, especially if the tourists have already arrived in Germany. Sanssouci, as already mentioned, is located near Potsdam, 20 km from the capital. There are regular buses from Berlin. You can also get there by train.

A visit to the park, the palace and all objects on its territory is paid. You can pay only for visits to individual buildings or purchase a premium subscription. You can get into the palace building itself only if you join the tour. Excursions are also paid and are conducted in various languages. At different times of the year, the cost of visiting is also different. But you can take pictures only with special permission, for which you must pay a fee. But despite this, the Sanssouci ensemble is worthy of both admiration and a second visit.