Seems like the paths and parks in Potsdam don’t get the mentions that palaces do, at least among casual tourists.
But it’s probably not fair — or accurate — to focus on the buildings to the exclusion of the parks that surround them. Landscape was part of the architecture in Potsdam; palaces were placed in parks. The UNESCO World Heritage listings treat Potsdam palaces and parks as a single entity.
There’s art and science behind landscape “architecture”, but you won’t find it here. What follows is the subjective musing of a browsing tourist.
Potsdam has both elegant French formal and more informal English landscape gardens. Too much design can result in an unpleasant, overly controlled, “manicured” appearance. Too little can result in an unruly, disorderly look of land unwilling to support an architect’s vision.
Application of reason was central to formal French style; the English approach was a kind of a “natural” reaction to it.
This geometric garden with trimmed trees and patterned flower beds greets visitors right at the entrance doors to Cecilienhof.
A lot is written about “sightlines”, especially from a palace down to a lake or river. Cecilienhof looks at the Jungfernsee (Jungfern Lake), where the Havel River widens into a lake.
Grounds were not all about gardens, lawns and paths. If you climb down the 20+ steps between each of the six terraces below the palace, this is where you end up.
Decorative items include the Chinese House (left) in Sanssouci Park and the Roman baths (right). Except like many of Potsdam’s sites, the baths are under renovation. This one ’til 2029.
The smaller ornamental garden buildings are often just for fun.
Sometimes in a manicured lawn and long sightline, it seems as if somebody needed to prove they could tame untamed nature.
The landscaping at the Peace Church sometimes felt like no landscaping — as it probably was designed to do. English gardens often were designed that way. I followed the walking path worn in the grass.
Lawns were mowed near paths, the artificial lake and buildings. Elsewhere, the grass was allowed to grow naturally. I watched a delighted dog roll around on its back in tall grass and fallen leaves on a sunny autumn afternoon. This became one of my favorite spots to hang out.
Water provided some relief from the structured environments, especially on a rare hot fall day in this northern clime. No doubt planned that way. This brook in Sanssouci Park seemed to say: “Chill with me” and I tried to.
It was always fun to be out strolling and come onto a tree-lined lane. This sandy, shaded path between trimmed lawns at Sanssouci made me feel as if I could walk for hours.
This path, which combined clipped hedges with untamed tree growth, was a little busier. More formal park features often get an informal use.
Curves like these made even the cobblestone paths seem gentle.
The flowers all over the park require unending care.
These are the folks who provide it. They’re at it year ’round.
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