Potsdam Castle

The site's history dates back to 993, when a Slavic fortress stood on the banks of the Havel River. After its conquest by the Ascanians in 1157, the fortress was expanded but fell into disrepair due to constant pawning. It was not until 1598 that a new permanent residence for Electress Katharina of Brandenburg was begun, though it remained unfinished. Severely damaged during the Thirty Years' War, the palace was rebuilt in the early Baroque style under Elector Friedrich Wilhelm (the Great Elector) from 1662 to 1674. Under Friedrich III, who crowned himself King Friedrich I in 1701, the palace underwent further changes, including the famous Fortuna Portal. Friedrich Wilhelm I used it as his main residence from 1713 but focused on developing Potsdam into a garrison city. A comprehensive redesign into a winter residence began in 1744 under Friedrich II by his architect Knobelsdorff. After the end of the monarchy, the palace served various public purposes until it was severely damaged in an air raid on April 14, 1945. Despite the preserved building fabric, the ruin was demolished in 1960 by decision of the SED Politburo to make way for a Karl Liebknecht Forum. In the late 1980s, construction of a new theater began on the site, but it was demolished after the reunification in 1991.

The Potsdam City Palace is located in the city of Potsdam, in the district of Potsdam Stadt, in the state of Brandenburg, Germany. It stands at an elevation of approximately 39 m above sea level.

Today, the Potsdam City Palace houses the Brandenburg State Parliament. Its exterior is a reconstruction of the historic palace, while the interior has been functionally designed for parliamentary use.

• Palais Lichtenau (residence), approx. 1.2 km away
• Sanssouci Palace (palace), approx. 1.8 km away
• New Chambers Palace (palace), approx. 1.9 km away
• Marmorpalais (palace), approx. 2.0 km away