Bordering the Jungfernsee lake, Cecilienhof Palace is located in the northern part of the New Garden. Land for the palace was originally acquired in 1783 as part of Frederik William I’s plans to develop a summer residence and gardens north of Potsdam. Built between 1913 and 1917, the imposing palace was built in an English Tudor style. There are no less than 176 rooms in the building, which is built largely of wood and bricks at the cost of eight million gold marks. The magnificent palace served as a residence for Crown Prince Wilhelm and named after his wife, Crown Princess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
Cecilienhof has played an important role in history and during World War II when it hosted the Potsdam Conference between July 17 and August 2, 1945. Representatives from the major victorious powers of the war – the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States. World leaders met to discuss the future of Germany, including the division of the country and the formation of a central government. Several rooms used during the conference by Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill can be toured today in their original state. Before the conference, Soviet soldiers repairing the palace grounds planted flowers in the shape of a red star that is also still visible from afar.When you visit Cecilienhof Palace in Potsdam, you will see that the true greatness of the castle lies in its ingenious construction. The architectural masterpiece designed by architect Paul Schultze-Naumburg incorporates traditional building materials and half-timbered walls of dark wood that makes the palace fit seamlessly into the landscape around Potsdam. In addition to five courtyards, there are 55 different decorative chimney stacks.
The palace includes the large Ehrenhof at the centre, which was used as the private entrance for the Crown Prince and his wife. There is also a smaller garden court, the Prinzengarten, and three other courts around the wings of the building. Inside, there is a spacious living hall, reception rooms and the royal couple’s private chambers. The private apartment of the Crown Prince includes a study, bathroom, dressing room and bedroom as well as an expansive library, a nicely furnished smoking-room and a separate breakfast room. The Crown Princess had her own living area with a bedroom, bath and dressing room, music room and writing room. The princess’s apartment was designed in a distinctive style reminiscent of a ship's cabin. Unfortunately, furnishings in some of the palace’s rooms have been lost to history.- Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 - 18:00 clock
- Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 - 17:00 clock
Events in Potsdam
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Music Festival in PotsdamThe Music Festival in Potsdam will be held again in June. This year's theme "Music and gardens" ubiquitous. So even on the opening day in June. Interesting and unique you can take guided tours and visits to many different places. For those interested there is an Opera Workshop.
TICKETSDetails about the Music Festival in Potsdam can be found here.
The concert on the eve and Night of the Palaces in PotsdamThe Park of Sanssouci and Sanssouci Palace with its terraced vineyards and the New Palace are undisputedly the most important monuments in Potsdam, therefore provides the Night of the Palaces as an excellent temporal orientation, to learn more about the state capital of Brandenburg.
TICKETSDetails about the Night of the Palaces can be found here.