Germany > The Palaces of Sanssouci

Already at seven o’clock we walk into the breakfast room. Today we have the early shift. This time is clearly popular with businesspeople. The breakfast is no less good for that. However, it is much quieter around the buffet. At eight o’clock, we check out and walk to the parking garage where we left the car four days ago. The morning rush hour in the center of Berlin is not too bad. We drive fairly smoothly through Tiergarten park towards Potsdam. After three quarters of an hour, we arrive in a suburb of Berlin. In the parking lot near Sanssouci Palace, we are also among the first visitors. The palace opens its doors at ten o’clock. We have tickets for the first time slot of the day.

Germany - The small special Rococo palace of Potsdam

This means we still have time for a walk through the enormous palace gardens. We follow the route to the Neues Palais, a distance of just over one kilometer. The Neues Palais was built in 1763 on the orders of Frederick II of Prussia. The king had the palace built at the end of the Seven Years’ War to emphasize the success of the Prussians. We do not have time for more than a glimpse of the outside. Quickly, we turn back and walk through the park to the ‘old’ Sanssouci Palace. The garden in front of the ochre-yellow palace is laid out in several terraces. From the fountain, a wide staircase leads up to the palace. At exactly ten o’clock, we arrive at the entrance. Only ten visitors are admitted at a time. With the audioguide, I enter the first hall. King Frederick had a small Rococo-style summer palace built in 1745. Frederick was actively involved in the design. The palace was mainly meant to radiate peace and pleasure. The walls and ceilings are gilded with gold. A magnificent whole. In the library are the old books of yesteryear. The sleeping quarters all overlook the enormous garden and park.

Germany - The beautiful summer palace of King Frederick

The Marble Hall is the showpiece of the palace. This is where guests were received. In the other wing are the guest bedrooms. Each one is beautifully decorated. Since we still have time, we decide to have coffee in the Hollandisches Viertel district. Many others had the same idea. The streets are full, and a free parking spot is nowhere to be found. It is also unclear where parking is allowed. Why shouldn’t others who are also looking park in the open spots? Usually, these are driveways or permit-holder spots. We are fed up with the bustle and decide to leave the Hollandisches Viertel as it is. We set the navigation to the Netherlands and decide to have coffee along the way. From here, it is still about 670 kilometers to drive home. After an hour and a half, we leave the highway briefly. It is easier to park at the rest stop, and the coffee is quickly served. The rest of the trip goes smoothly. There are occasional minor delays due to roadworks. It is never really busy anywhere. Around five o’clock, we enter the Netherlands again. We eat something along the route and then drive the last stretch home. We return safely after a fantastic city trip to Berlin.