Sanssouci Palace

The Sanssouci Palace in the Sanssouci Park in Potsdam is the highlight of every trip to Potsdam. Let yourself be enchanted by the summer palace of Frederick II.

Sanssouci Palace | the summer palace of King Frederick II.

The castle was built from 1745-1747 according to the ideas of King Frederick II and plans by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff and is the center and highlight of the entire park. The castle is located northwest of the then city of Potsdam and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Frederick the Great wanted to spend his summer months without any worries (Sanssouci: (from French sans souci ‘without worry’) “).

The Sanssouci Palace is a single-storey, elongated palace. Originally it was only intended as a summer palace, but Frederick II spent most of the year there. The castle was built after a model of a French “maison de plaisance”. The famous garden view of Sanssouci that goes with it was created after Frederick the Great’s decision to create a terraced vineyard on the southern slope of the Bornstedter ridge. There used to be oaks on the hill.

After Frederick the Great had the mountain terraced in 1744, wine was grown there. On top of the vineyard, he had the palace built in the baroque style. Frederick and Knobelsdorf were in a violent argument before the building was erected. Because the builder wanted to build a basement under the castle, but Friedrich did not. For this purpose, the castle should be built at ground level. Knobelsdorf bowed to Friedrich and so the palace was built according to his wishes. It was inaugurated on May 1, 1747 by Friedrich II with a banquet.

The castle has several interiors. These include the entrance hall, the ballroom (marble hall), the royal apartment and five guest rooms.

“Old Fritz”, as he was popularly known, died on August 17, 1786 in the armchair of his study in Sanssouci Palace. According to his own instructions, he wanted to be buried in a crypt next to his favorite dogs. However, it was not until midnight on August 17, 1991 that the coffin of Frederick the Great was buried in a solemn ceremony on the terrace of the Sanssouci Palace.

Address

Maulbeerallee, 14469 Potsdam

Opening times of the Sanssouci Palace

April to October (summer season)

• Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
• Closed on Mondays

November to March (winter season)

• Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Closed on Mondays
• Christmas Eve: Closed
• Christmas Day: Closed
• Christmas Day: 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• New Year’s Eve: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• New Year: 11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Tickets & tours for the Sanssouci Palace

Further information on tickets for the Sanssouci Palace is available on our partner website.