Russia 2006 Journey Day Twelve
Potsdam, Germany

                                            [25 July, 2006]  Located southwest of Berlin in the town of Potsdam is the summer palace 
                                            called  Schloss Sanssouci.  Frederick the Great had the assortment of palaces built during the mid 1700s.
                                            The term Sanssouci is French and means "without care".  Seems that King Friedrich II needed his "artistic
                                            side" to come out without his Kingship duties.
 
                                            The terraces below the palace include grape vines and fig trees (behind closed glass doors during
                                            the winter).  The area is now called Sanssouci Park and includes extensive landscaping and concerts
                                            in the church.
 
                                            Frederick the Great commissioned another palace - the Neue Palais which contained 200 rooms and
                                            428 rather large statues.  More of a novelty building, the Chinese House included several golden columns 
                                            and figures.  Since Roman ruins landscape painting was popular during the mid 1700s, the King made
                                            sure the palace grounds had it's own faux Roman wall and column ruins.
                           
                                            The following King, Friedrich Wilhelm IV, built his assortment of palaces, including the largest entitled
                                            the Orangerie and was based on his Italian travels.  The building is currently in dire condition and 
                                            some restoration has started.  King Wilhelm had his novelty building, too - a Roman Bath with an 
                                            interior pool.
 
                                            It is easy to see that Potsdam was part of the East Germany communistic realm - large box shaped
                                            housing are part of the perimeter city.  Several mansion type homes across from the park are abandoned
                                            and would be a premium estate home in other cities.  When looking at the "before" pictures of various
                                            minor palaces in the park, the neglect was significant.  Most of the fence gates look like they have not
                                            been opened since the early 1950s.  However, the city has a new train station and scaffolding is 
                                            abundant around the Nikolai church.  
 
 
 
 
                                                        Sanssouci Palace scenes    Sanssouci Palace scenes    Sanssouci Palace scenes
                                                                                                                           Sanssouci Palace Scenes
 
                                                            Sanssouci Palace scenes     Sanssouci Palace scenes    Sanssouci Palace scenes
                                                                                                                                        Sanssouci Palace Scenes
 
 
                                                      Sanssouci Palace scenes      Sanssouci Palace scenes      Sanssouci Palace scenes
                                                                                                                                        Sanssouci Palace Scenes
 
                                                        Sanssouci Palace scenes    Sanssouci Palace scenes    Sanssouci Palace scenes
                                                                                                                                           Sanssouci Palace Scenes
 
                                                        Sanssouci Palace scenes    Sanssouci Church Tower    Sanssouci Palace scenes
                                                                     Sanssouci Palace Scenes                                Church Bell Tower                                             Park Scenes
 
                                                                        Sanssouci Park bridge scenes    Sanssouci Park Windmill    Chinesisches Haus
                                                                                       Sanssouci Park bridge                          Windmill                                 Chinese House
 
                                                                      Chinesisches Haus    Chinesisches Haus    Chinesisches Haus
                                                                                                                                        Chinese House Scenes
 
                                                    Chinesisches Haus    Chinesisches Haus    Chinesisches Haus
                                                                                                                                        Chinese House Scenes
 
                                                    Orangerie Palace Scenes    Orangerie Palace Scenes    Orangerie Palace Scenes
                                                                                                                                        Orangerie Palace Scenes
 
                                                                            Orangerie Palace Scenes    Orangerie Palace Scenes    Orangerie Palace Scenes    
                                                                                                                                        Orangerie Palace Scenes
 
                                                                    Belvedere Building    Belvedere Building    Hill of Ruins (Recreated) 
                                                                                                                                  Belvedere Palace                                      Hill of Roman Ruins
 
                                                                                   Neue Palace    Fountain Swan
                                                                                                                     Neue  Palace                                                    Fountain Swan

                                        

                                    

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