Potsdam is not a suburb of Berlin -- it is a city in its own right. It was one of the residences of the Kings of Prussia and Emperors of Germany. Several complexes of palaces and gardens were built, and the city was developed by the admission of settlers from France, the Netherlands, and Russia in the 17th and 18th centuries. Like Berlin, the city was badly damaged during World War II, but many of the old and fine buildings and the residential areas of the city centre survived, or have been restored.

The Nauener Tor (Nauen Gate) from 1755, in Friedrich-Ebert-Straße.

A doorway in Friedrich-Ebert-Straße.

Below: more of the beautiful red brick houses of the Dutch Quarter (Holländisches Viertel).

Potsdam has its own Brandenburger Tor as well. In the foreground is the Luisenplatz.

Fortunaportal (Gate of Fortune). As with Berlin, Potsdam had a royal palace in the city centre that was demolished by the DDR government. The Fortunaportal was the main entrance, and is a replica. The palace is due to be reconstructed on its old site.

In the centre is the huge Nikolaikirche, desgned by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, and finally given its dome in 1850. On the right is the Altes Rathaus (Old City Hall). The green open space could well soon be occupied by the rebuilt royal palace!

By September 2007 the foundations of the demolished palace were being exposed. The building in the centre right is the former stable block, now a film museum.

Two shots of the Knobelsdorff Haus, next to the Altes Rathaus.

To the south of the city centre is the Telegrafenberg (Telegraph Hill) -- a complex of observatories and other scientific establishments built since the mid-19th century. This is the Einsteinturm (Einstein Tower) built in 1920 by Erich Mendelsohn, and still in use today.
Probably my most favourite building of all!

The Einsteinturm

Copyright (c) 2005 John Howard. All rights reserved.