Sightseeing tour of Potsdam (by public transport)

Do not be afraid of a walking tour of Potsdam. I did it many times, often in winter, once in a blizzard with wet snow. And yet, even on this day, my guests were absolutely delighted. In case of bad weather, Potsdam will always offer us places where we can sit to warm up, drink hot tea or mulled wine and continue the tour with new strength.

Potsdam is a unique complex of masterpieces, consisting of royal residences with a masterpiece of world significance - the park and palace "San Sousi", a unique garrison town of the king-soldier, the Russian colony "Alexandrivka", the Museum of the Potsdam Conference, "Bridge of Spies", a science park with "Einstein Tower" and much more. In addition, nature in these places fascinates with its beauty, and our excursion is a wonderful opportunity to walk in the fresh air.

The tour will start from the door of your hotel or from the nearest metro station. We will get to Potsdam by train, it is comfortable and quite fast - about 40 minutes. A single ticket for the whole day will cost 7 euros per person, or 16 euros for a group of up to 5 people. Agree, it's cheap. Along the way, I will tell you the history of the city itself and introduce you to its main characters.

Arriving by train to Potsdam station, we will reach the Old Market Square. Either by foot if the weather is good or by Potsdam tram. By the way, the trams of Potsdam are also a landmark of this city. From the Old Market Square began the history of the second capital of Prussia. Once there was a market, there was an old wooden church and a small town hall. In 1662, on this square began to build his palace - the residence of the Grand Elector Frederick-Wilhelm I, and the townspeople had to move. On the site of a small wooden church, a magnificent cathedral grew, and on the site of the old town hall - a new one, with a huge gilded atlante on the roof. The Royal Palace was blown up in 1960 by the decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the GDR. However, it has been revived today, and today we will see a restored masterpiece of the XVII century.

After that, we will cross the square and look into the former greenhouse of the Prince's Park - the oldest building in the city, which has retained its appearance since Frederick the Great.

Walk a little more and visit the place where once stood the legendary Garrison Church. Russian tsars Alexander I and Nicholas I, Napoleon, Hitler and Hindenburg came here to venerate the graves of Frederick the Great and his father, the soldier king. I will tell you the legends and traditions associated with this church and we will listen to the ringing of bells that survived the bombing of 1945 and the demolition of the church during the GDR.

After that, we will walk through the streets of the old Garrison City. He's unique. Nowhere else in the world were streets built for soldiers. And nowhere else was the city wall, which guarded the city not from the outside, but from the inside - it kept the army of the king-soldier from deserting. We will pass through the Brandenburg Gate, which is older than the Berlin Gate of the same name, and wander through the cozy streets of old Potsdam. I will tell you about the life and strange habits of a soldier king, his cruel methods of raising sons.

The oldest of them was Frederick the Great. The life of Frederick is surrounded by many myths. But the real events of his life resemble legends and legends. It is to him that we owe the construction of the pearl of world architecture - the palace and park of Sanssouci. My story will lead us to visit this masterpiece. We will explore the famous palace, the tomb of Frederick, a ruined mountain and a fountain - the only failure in the life of a great king. After that, we will go down the magnificent grape terraces, cross the park with its “surprises” – a grotto, a Chinese house, Roman baths, a belvedere, an ancient temple, a temple of friendship and a greenhouse palace. The main alley of the park will lead us to the New Palace - a grandiose structure of the middle of the XVIII century. It amazes with its beauty and its greatness. But it's also full of optical surprises that we're going to see.

Let’s leave Sanssouci Park and take the city bus, which will take us to the Russian colony “Alexandrivka”. 13 wooden Russian huts with estates are located in the heart of the capital of Prussia (Potsdam was the second capital of the kingdom). How did they get here? You'll find out on the tour.

After that, we will visit the New Park with its Marble Palace, the Pyramid and the secret pier of Frederick-Wilhelm II, nephew and heir of Frederick the Great. Here we are transported to the XX century, because in this park is located the Cecilienhof Palace - the venue of the Potsdam Conference. It was here that the map of post-war Europe was determined in 1945. It was here that Stalin, Churchill and Truman turned from allies into competitors. Here Truman informed Stalin of the creation of the atomic bomb, here it was decided that Germany would remain united and indivisible (and that was almost immediately violated). Nothing has changed in the building since it was abandoned by the "high-ranking persons" and is now the Potsdam Conference Museum.

The next attraction of the XX century is the “Soviet military town No. 7”, a secret KGB zone, where during the Cold War there was a center for training intelligence officers and a secret KGB prison. The prison is now a museum and can be visited. Another exhibit of the Cold War is the Bridge of Spies. This old bridge once connected Berlin with Potsdam, and royal cavalcades swept over it. After the partition of Germany, the "German-German border" passed in the middle of the river, and the bridge was completely closed for crossing. The only ones who crossed it were exchanging Soviet and U.S. intelligence officers, or American pilot Powers shot down over the territory of the USSR.

From here we will admire the wonderful Glinike Park, which opens behind the river. It was built in the Italian style and used parts of the ruined ancient monastery brought from Italy. Opposite it, on the other side of the river is Babelsberg Park, built in a completely different style.

This will end our first day in Potsdam. I am sure you will be overwhelmed with impressions. The rest is best left for the second day if you have the opportunity.

What is it? Glinike Park and Babelsberg Park with the highest tower of Potsdam and Science Park with the "Einstein Tower". The district of Czech weavers Novaves with unique houses and the Babelsberg film studio (former DEFA film studio), where we will be able to look at the film sets. Three mansions of the 19th century, which bear the names of their temporary inhabitants - "Villa Churchill", "Villa Stalin" and "Villa Truman". Belvedere on Trinity Mountain, Peacock Island with the famous “Mistress’s Palace”, and much more.

And, among other things, in Potsdam - wonderful little restaurants and shops. Many Berliners come here to spend their free time. Maybe you should take an hour to dine in a small German family restaurant. Or take a look at a little Potsdam fashion boutique? In any case, Potsdam will not leave you indifferent.

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