About this Destination
Sanssouci Palace is the crown jewel of Potsdam and one of Germany's most magnificent royal residences, built by Prussian King Frederick the Great between 1745 and 1747 as his summer retreat. The palace name means "without worries" in French, reflecting Frederick's intention to create a place of relaxation away from court ceremonies. Designed by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff in rococo style, it's considered the most beautiful rococo palace in Germany. The palace sits atop terraced vineyards that Frederick personally designed in 1743, featuring 132 steps leading to the palace entrance. The panoramic gardens represent the synthesis of 18th-century European artistic movements and intellectual concepts of enlightened monarchy. The palace became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990, recognized as the "Prussian Versailles" - a unique example of architectural creation and landscape design. The surrounding Sanssouci Park spans 500 hectares with 150 buildings constructed between 1730 and 1916, including the New Palace and numerous temples and follies. Later expansions under Frederick William IV added 19th-century landscaping that blended French formal gardens with picturesque romantic elements. Frederick the Great's tomb lies in the vineyard terrace as he requested, where he was finally interred in 1991 after German reunification. The palace and gardens attract visitors worldwide who come to experience this masterpiece of rococo architecture, royal history, and landscape artistry.