Neues Palais

The vast Prussian palace, the Neues Palais in Potsdam, is an imposing counterpart to the smaller, more intimate Sanssouci Palace right next door. Its magnificently decorated banquet halls fascinated visitors even back then – and still do today.

A symbol of Prussian power

“We’re somebody again!” It was with this mindset that Frederick II built the imposing New Palace as a prestige project at the far end of the palace gardens. Following the end of the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763), he was thus showing his neighbours and enemies that they would do well to take Prussia’s new power more seriously.

Unlike the small, intimate Sanssouci, the New Palace is therefore a pompous building with long suites of rooms, lavishly decorated ballrooms and galleries. The builders worked in record time, yet shrugged off shoddy workmanship. In impoverished Prussia, they also had to make do with imitations of the expensive brick. Despite this – or perhaps precisely because of it – we strongly recommend that you take a closer look at the New Palace.

The history

Frederick II himself describes the New Palace as a ‘fanfaronade’ – a display of ostentation and boasting. He prefers the intimate Sanssouci and uses the magnificent building as guest accommodation and a setting for lavish festivities. He had apartments fitted out for the members of his family – but not for his wife. Queen Elisabeth Christine was not welcome at court and lived apart from the King – albeit officially in her role as Queen – at Schönhausen Palace. Following the death of Frederick II, his descendants had a series of modernisations carried out over the years, such as electric lighting, bathrooms with toilets and, in 1903, even a ‘ ’ lift. Emperor Wilhelm II, who was known to have a penchant for pomp, enjoyed using the New Palace as his summer residence. In winter, the vast building was cold and draughty. Consequently, to avoid getting too cold, Empress Auguste Viktoria had to bathe in a cupboard.
Following the end of the monarchy in 1918 and the Emperor’s abdication , the Neues Palais became a museum palace. In 1945, Soviet soldiers looted the interior furnishings.

Architecture and interior

The large, three-winged palace looks imposing even from the outside, though the red brickwork is merely painted on for cost reasons. It was built in the late Baroque style, even though that period’s heyday was actually already over. The roof is adorned with a tambour dome and numerous sculptures: 292 in total.
The dome, too, is purely decorative; there is no room beneath it.

The Communs

Behind the main castle building lie the so-called ‘Communs’, the outbuildings, which are connected by an underground passage.

The Castle Theatre

The palace theatre is a particularly fine example of a Rococo theatre building. It is painted in red and white and adorned with golden ornaments. Performances still take place on the small stage today.

Banquet Halls and Galleries

Inside, the spacious palace, with its approximately 200 rooms, the royal apartments and four galleries, is furnished in the cheerful Rococo style. Probably the most eccentric hall, with which Frederick II sought to impress his visitors, is the Grotto Hall, also known as the Shell Hall. Following extensive restoration, more than 24,000 shells, minerals, fossils and precious stones now sparkle and glitter once again, just as they did in his day.
The Marble Gallery, with its marble cladding and ceiling paintings framed in gold, is also a particularly fine example of Prussian Rococo that you shouldn’t miss. The magnificent Marble Hall is once again open to visitors following extensive restoration work.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

The New Palace forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site ‘Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin’. The cultural landscape in Potsdam and southern Berlin is an ensemble of incomparable beauty and harmony – no wonder it is also known as ‘Prussian Arcadia’.

Your visit

sanssouci+ tickets

The sanssouci+ ticket package, available at all Berlin Tourist Info centres, allows you to visit a wide selection of Prussian palaces, including the New Palace in Potsdam.

Ticket tip

On presentation of a ticket issued by the Foundation of Prussian Palaces and Gardens Berlin-Brandenburg (the Marble Palace, New Palace and Picture Gallery, excluding the sanssouci+ combination ticket), you will receive a 25 per cent discount on a day ticket for the Barberini Museum (valid for 3 days) – and vice versa.

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