Belvedere Pfingstberg

Pfingstberg is crowned with one of the finest examples of a 19th-century grand building: the Belvedere Pfingstberg with its two observation towers. Also located here is the Pomona Temple, Schinkel's first work, and a garden designed by Peter Joseph Lenné.

The beautiful pleasure palace is situated on Potsdam's highest point. From here, the verdant parklands, the opulent palaces, and the baroque city center lie at your feet. Looking further east, you can even see the skyline of Potsdam's younger and larger sister city, Berlin. Frederick William II had already dreamed of a palace on Pfingstberg Hill, but it was Frederick William IV who finally commissioned its construction. The romantic viewpoint palace was built starting in 1847. His enthusiasm for Italy is evident in the building's architecture. The "Romantic on the Throne" was inspired by the Villa Medici in Rome and the Villa d'Este in Tivoli. The king did not live to see its completion in 1863. His brother, William I, finished the building in a scaled-down version.

During the division of Germany, the complex was left to decay due to its proximity to the inner-German border and the KGB town "No. 7". From 1988 onwards, the later founders of the Pfingstberg Support Association ensured through their dedication that it has regained the splendor of its early years.

Through a multimedia permanent exhibition and an exhibition featuring eyewitness accounts, visitors can learn fascinating facts about the ensemble's eventful history. Audio guides are available on smartphones, and guided tours can be experienced via a technical group system. Individually bookable tours are also possible.

The palace is regularly used for concerts and events almost all year round. It can also be rented for private and business celebrations, events, and receptions. As a branch of the Potsdam registry office, the Belvedere is also one of the most romantic places to get married.