Sanctuary of a Prussian King: Germany’s Palace of Sanssouci

The garden side of Sanssouci is the most famous view of the palace, with its six-fold sweep of the staircase. The one-story level façade on the upper plateau of a vineyard provides the perfect stage for the Rococo lifestyle, close to nature. The structure stands apart from multi-level extravagant Baroque palaces that act as a representation of power. (With permission © SPSG / Hans Bach)

No other palace represents the personality of Frederick the Great as much as the magnificent Sanssouci. Originally designed as a summer residence near Potsdam (now Germany), it represents Frederick’s ideals through its elegant Rococo architecture.

Sanssouci (“without care”) wasn’t only Frederick’s favorite place to stay but also his retreat and sanctuary. Built between 1745 and 1747 by architect Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff according to the king’s sketches, the palace features an impressive park with unique decorative features.

It’s no wonder that the Prussian king selected this particular style for a summer palace instead of the opulent Baroque style. The Rococo style is characterized by its grace, lightness, and playfulness, based on carefree themes such as aristocratic life and romance.

Natural images are found throughout the palace. The interiors are covered with foliage, flowers, vines, fruits, and birds. It’s almost as if nature became part of the palace, transforming it into a paradise. The elegant interior rooms reflect a clear expression of the king’s love for nature, most of which open onto the gardens. Highlights include the concert room with intricate rocaille decoration; the square Jasper Hall, featuring precious jasper; and the Marble Hall, inspired by images of antiquity.

Other highlights include the Picture Gallery, which features works by Caravaggio and Rubens, and the New Chambers palace in the late Rococo style, located on the right and left of the central palace structure. Frederick William IV later enlarged the palace and redesigned the Baroque garden as a landscape garden, with structures such as the Orangery Palace and the Roman Baths, bringing Italy to Prussia. However, most of the original style remained, as an homage to Frederick the Great’s vision.

Today, Frederick, the “philosopher of Sanssouci” as he was affectionally called, rests on the grounds of his beloved summer home.

A closer look at the garden front of the palace, on the upper plateau of the vineyard. Under the central dome of the building, one can read the motto of the palace: “Sans Souci.” The façade is further decorated with 36 carved bacchantes, companions of the Greek god of wine Bacchus, paired around each window. These are the work of Friedrich Christian Glume, who also created the cherubs above the dome windows and the vases on the balustrade. (With permission, © SPSG/Leo Seidel)

The main entrance of the palace contrasts with the famous garden side. The north façade acts as a sovereign display of power with its semi-circular main courtyard composed of 88 double Corinthian columns. Friedrich preferred the playful design of the garden façade, which made him feel closer to nature thanks to a direct access to the terrace. (With permission © Bildarchiv Foto Marburg/Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg/Andreas Lechtape)

The sumptuous Marble Hall is the only room in the palace in the classical style. Both walls and floor are covered with white marble from Carrara, Italy. On the cornice, supported by majestic columns, figures symbolize astronomy, architecture, music, painting, and sculpture. (With permission, © SPSG/Hillert Ibbeken)

One of the most famous rooms in the pleasure palace: the concert room. It was in this magnificent décor that Frederick the Great played the flute and hosted concerts. The room is intricately decorated in the rocaille style, using the motif of a C-shaped cell. The six wall paintings by Antoine Pesne are framed by rocailles and depict the “metamorphoses” of Ovid. (With permission, © SPSG/Leo Seidel)

In contrast to the festive concert room, the library has a more intimate atmosphere, decorated with mirrors, wood carvings, and gilded stucco. The wood-paneled library features more than 2,000 books that belonged to Frederick. (With permission, © SPSG/Leo Seidel)

Located in the New Chambers, the magnificent Jasper Hall features precious pink jasper, marble floors, ancient busts, and elegant gilding on the walls. (With permission, © SPSG/Reinhardt und Sommer)

Also located in the New Chambers, the Picture Gallery is the oldest independent museum in Germany. The elongated hall features a gilded stucco ceiling and a floor made of white and yellow marble. Outstanding works from the Italian, Dutch, and Flemish schools of painting are on display here. (With permission, © SPSG/Celia Rogge)

One of the jewels of the palace park: the Chinese House. The pavilion’s exterior features life-sized gilded figures depicting Chinese musicians and tea drinkers, which were based on sketches from Frederick the Great himself. The playful green Rococo building is one of the most famous examples of the Chinoiserie style, which influenced European court culture in the 18th century and represented European ideas of China rather than an accurate representation. This pavilion also symbolized an escape into a fantasy world for the monarch during his stays at Sanssouci. (With permission, © SPSG/Hans Bach)

The light and airy interior of the Chinese House is an architectural gem of the Rococo period. The walls feature gilded consoles, on which porcelain objects are displayed. As for the Chinese-inspired ceiling, it represents a social gathering depicted in an illusionistic manner. (With permission, © Bildarchiv Foto Marburg, SPSG/Andreas Lechtape)

An aerial view of the Sanssouci complex. The world-renowned park features terraced grounds and a majestic fountain at the center, surrounded by marble benches and sculptures representing Olympian gods. The baroque parterre near the palace features more than 230,000 plants. (With permission, © SPSG/Reinhardt und Sommer)