"Potsdam" a Berlin Travel Page by alza

The name 'Potsdam' always intrigued me, on the rare occasions when I heard it or saw it anywhere. Here was a gilded palace in a park filled with mythological statuary... in a place that seemed inaccessible to me for a long time. Fantasies are made of this :-)

Today, we can all visit Potsdam conveniently and I didn't want to miss it on my first trip to Berlin. The former East-West division of Berlin was confusing to me before I got there. I must have trouble with spatial descriptions... I realised while I was in Berlin that I had not understood half of what I'd heard about its physical set-up.

Have to admit that this led me to get the whole regional East-West thing wrong... hard to explain but let's say I had thought there was a dividing line IN Berlin, with everything east of that line being former East Germany. In fact, some 'east' is 'west' of Berlin... things go in a sort of circle. I'm tired just thinking about it so can't be too useful here.

Anyway, I bought the best map of Berlin and area and set off by car one sunny morning. I had no problem driving in Berlin at all. But I had a major problem getting on the Avus Autobahn! I followed my map, asked for directions at every stop-light, and went in circles for 45 minutes.

We owe the many beauties of Potsdam to Friedrich II (the Great), who spoke French by the way, rather than German.

The King of Prussia (Friedrich III this time) got this Russian colony built in Potsdam around 1826. The place was for members of a Russian choir who found themselves in Potsdam following the Napoleonic Wars -- missing their homeland and log cabins.
I won't go on with the history. Just to say it surprised me to find these simple abodes near the gilded Château. Simple, but the houses have intricate details and wood-carvings, and the grounds are like in the country-side. Not manucured gardens. Lovely!

I had some Russian food in the courtyard, in the back of the tea-house pictured here. The place felt odd -- I peeked inside the 'kitchen' as I left (that's the room with big plate-warmers) -- and thought this is probably what is meant by Tourist Trap. The waitresses were a little disgruntled (except mine) and weren't at ease with tourists from another world. It'll come in time, I guess.

Back in the courtyard, a young woman dressed, seated and guitar-bound like Joan Baez sang popular old Russian songs. She didn't 'sing' like Joan Baez though. I felt sad for her to think what I did... that her voice was too loud and grating after 2 songs. She sang at least 20...

Here's one of the small houses built for the Russians in Potsdam, with a typical garden. Wooden posts, berry bushes, orchard trees. All is a very natural setting, the surprise comes from finding this near the grounds of the ornate Sanssouci.

This is signalled as 'Historische Mühle' but it's big enough that you'll see it before you see the signs.

I found it impressive and fun (my usual reaction to any windmill with wings turning.) The solid windmill is behind Château Sanssouci and there's a Visitors Centre next to it with information about Park Sanssouci.

Friedrich the Great also brought Dutch artisans to beautify the city of Potsdam. A Dutch Quarter developed in the centre of town, with typical Dutch-style houses. The Holländisches Viertel was neglected after the Second World War but had a revival in the 90's, and now its streets are lined with cafés and shops. I couldn't find the history behind the windmill at Sanssouci, but it may be linked to the original Dutch 'settlement'.

I should have thought of this before maybe. It would have helped me put my pics in order more easily.
Oh well, it's never too late to use a map.

I say Berliners, coz they were on their bikes. But bikes can be rented in town (very practical!)
What I really want to say is that there were quite a few visitors in Potsdam itself and in Sanssouci (both the Château and the Park.) It didn't feel touristy to me at all, everyone seemed to be German.
People here are always out for a stroll. It was the same in Berlin. I really like that, living places.

Italian Renaissance style. I had too much to do that day, so I enjoyed the building from the fountain and gardens in front. People-watching and reading by a monument of another age is the best!