Raven Guides: Germany - Potsdam

The Romantic ideals of Karl Friedrich Schinkel’s later
architecture made Schloß Babelsberg (1833) the first of
the continent’s Neogothic palaces, influenced by
Schinkel’s travel in Britain and notions associating
Romanticism with German unity. The palace was a
summer residence for the crown prince, later Wilhelm I,
whose princess Augusta took firm views on the project,
arguing with both Schinkel and Lenné when it came to
park matters. The prince Hermann von Pückler-Muskau
was responsible for much of the garden layout. The
palace is being restored in a €10 million project
expected to last until the end of 2015. The forecourt area
provides a view over Glienicker Brücke and the lakes.
Take bus 694 or the Wassertaxi to Schloß Babelsberg.
The Neogothic Flatowturm (1856) was designed by
Johann Heinrich Strack for the emperor William I with a
medieval gate tower in Frankfurt as a model. The tower,
used as guest accommodation, continued the Potsdam
building tradition of erecting buildings offering a view
from lofty locations. As its moat the tower used the
water storage for Park Babelsberg. The 46m tower can
be climbed (May-Oct Sa-Su
10-18, €2) for its city and lake
view. Just to the north is the
Gerichtslaube, a transplanted
fragment of the medieval Berlin
Rathaus. Take bus 694 or the
Wassertaxi to Schloß Babelsberg.
The arched steel Glienicker Brücke (1907) across
the Havel at the north end of Potsdam was used for
a known handful of prisoner exchanges at the Cold
War frontier and hence will always be regarded as the
bridge of spies. At this isolated spot the border was a
simple line across the middle of the bridge (marked
by a plaque today), though carefully watched. Here
the U-2 reconnaissance pilot Francis Gary Powers was
handed back to US officials in 1962. By this time the
original structure, blown up during World War II, had
been almost completely rebuilt. Other exchanges were
set here in the pages of popular espionage fiction.
Take tram 93 to Glienicker Brücke. An exhibition on
the bridge’s history is in the city (see Museums).
extra) but there are deals available including
four nights for the price of three as well as
apartments. Take S7 to Potsdam-Babelsberg
and walk north on Karl-Liebknecht-Straße or
take bus 694 to Spindelstraße.
Another Babelsberg option is the small
Pension am Findling (tel 0331-742064, www.
pension-am-findling.de) at Großbeerenstraße
105, with high-season singles/doubles including
breakfast at €47/74 (€41/62 without
breakfast). Between November and February
rates fall to €42/64 (€36/52 without breakfast).
Extra beds are €15 and children under 4 stay
free. Parking is also free and bicycles can be
hired at €5 per day or €20 per week. Take bus
601 or 619 to Eichenweg.
The DJH hostel is Jugendherberge
Potsdam-Haus der Jugend (tel 0331-
5813100, email jh-potsdam@jugendherberge.
de) at Schulstraße 9 immediately south of the
Babelsberg station with beds and breakfast
starting at €17 in low season and €23 in high
season. Schulstraße is reached at the east
end via Wattstraße or the east end via Karl-
Liebknecht-Straße.
The pyramid near Marmorpalais was
used for food storage.
MUSEUMS & GALLERIES
Potsdam Museum (Tu-W & F 10-17, Th 10-19, Sa-Su 10-18, €5/3)
in the Altes Rathaus, Am Alter Markt 9, combines city history and art
with changing exhibitions. Take tram 91, 92, 93 or 96 to Alter Markt.
Another component of the museum is the Gedänkstätte
Lindenstraße 54 (Mar-Dec Tu-Su 10-18, Jan-Feb Tu-Su 10-17,
€3/2), a memorial in the Kommandantenhaus at that address to
victims of political oppression and violence. The building was used
as a political prison, first during World War II and later by the GDR
government and the KGB. Cells and the prison yard can be viewed.
Take tram 91, 94 or 98 to Dortustraße.
Haus der Brandenburgisch-Preußischen Geschichte (Tu-F
10-17, Sa-Su 10-18, €4.50/3.50) in the Kutschstall, Am Neuen
Markt 9, has a standing exhibition on the history of Brandenburg
and Prussia and the nature and significance of the Prussian military
heritage. Take tram 91, 92, 93 or 96 to Alter Markt.
An exhibition on the history of Glienicker Brücke (M-F 10-16,
entry free) is at the Bundesvermögensamt, Berliner Straße 89
(enter through reception). Take tram 93 to Glienicker Brücke.
Filmmuseum Potsdam in the old Marstall building at Breite
Straße 1 has collections on the history of Babelsberg film studios
over a century, film technology and the film history of the GDR. Films
are shown some days. The museum was expected to be closed for
renovation until at least April 2014. Take tram 91, 92, 93 or 96 to
Alter Markt.
Museum Alexandrowka (Tu-Su 10-18, €3.50/3, children under 14
free) in the old warden’s house at Russische Kolonie 2, one of the
restored heritage timber buildings of the 1820s, covers the history of
Potsdam’s Russian enclave. Mid May-mid Sep the museum is open
Fridays to 21.00. Take tram 92 or 96 to Puschkinallee.
Nowaweser Weberstube Museum (Tu & Th 13-16, donations
requested), Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 23, displays artefacts from the
weavers’ settlement of Nowawes, populated by immigrants from
Bohemia from the mid 18th century. Take tram 94 or 99 or bus 601,
690, 693 or 694 to Rathaus Babelsberg.
The Bildergalerie (Tu-Su 10-18, €6/5 with audio guide) was
Frederick the Great’s royal collection of paintings and many of the
works he admired remain in the gallery he ordered built. Others
have been included from Prussian palaces. Take bus X15 or 695 to
Schloß Sanssouci.
Museum im Güldenen Arm (W-Su 12-18,
donation requested) in the half-timbered
building at Hermann-Elflein-Straße 3 has a
blend of artworks with a regional flavour,
including ceramics. Take bus 603 or 609 to
Mauerstraße.
Natural history from the region is exhibited
at the Naturkundemuseum (Tu-Su 9-17, €4, visitors 12-18 €2,
children 6-12 €1), Breite Straße 13. The permanent collection
includes an aquarium. The museum is also open the first Monday
each month. Take bus X15 or 606 to Naturkundemuseum.
Potsdam 8 - RAVEN TRAVEL GUIDES GERMANY