Page 145 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

BR ANDENBURG  143

as Park Charlottenhof. Built in
1826–9 for the heir to the The Potsdam Conference
throne, the future King Towards the end of World War II, the leaders of the Allies – Winston
Fried rich Wilhelm IV, this Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin – met in Schloß
small, single-storey building Cecilienhof in Potsdam. The aim of this conference, which lasted from
was designed by Karl Friedrich 17 July until 2 August 1945, was to resolve the problems arising at the
Schinkel in the style of a end of the war. The main participants changed, however, before it
Roman villa. Some of the wall was concluded. Churchill was replaced by newly elected Clement
paintings, designed by Schinkel Attlee, and Harry S. Truman took over after President Roosevelt died.
in the so-called Pompeiian The conference set up the occupation zones, the demilitarization and
style, are still in place. There monitoring of Germany,
is also a collection of Italian the punishment of war
criminals and the
engravings. The most inte r- reparations. It also
esting part of the interior is revised the German
the Humboldt Room. The borders. These
palace is surrounded by a decisions established
landscaped park designed the political balance
by Peter Joseph Lenné. of power in Europe,
which continued
+ Neues Palais for 45 years. Attlee, Truman and Stalin in Potsdam
Am Neuen Palais. Tel (0331) 969 42 02.
@ 605, 606.Open Apr–Oct:
10am–6pm Wed–Mon; Nov–Mar: has many interesting sculptures. P Filmpark Babelsberg
9am–5pm Wed–Mon. & The south wing houses the Großbeerenstraße. Tel (0331) 721 27
8 obligatory. kings’ quarters. 38. Open 15 Apr–31 Oct: 10am–6pm
One of Germany’s most daily. & ∑ filmpark.de
beautiful palaces, this imposing + Schloß Babelsberg This amazing film park was laid
Baroque structure, on the Park Babelsberg 10. Tel (0331) 969 42 out on the site where Germany’s
main avenue in Park Sans souci, 50. Closed until 2018. first films were produced in
was built for Frederick the Built in 1833–5 for Prince 1912. From 1917 the studio
Great to initial plans by Georg Wilhelm (Kaiser Wilhelm I), belonged to Universum-Film-
Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, this AG (UFA), which produced
in 1750. Its construction, to extravagant castle ranks as one some of the most famous films
designs by Johan Gottfried of his finest works. An irregular of the silent era, including Fritz
Büring, Jean Laurent Le Geay building with many towers and Lang’s Metropolis and some
and Carl von Gontard, was bay windows, built in the spirit films with Greta Garbo. The Blue
delayed until 1763–9, after the of English Neo-Gothic, with Angel, with Marlene Dietrich,
Seven Years’ War. The vast, three- allusions to Windsor Castle and was also shot at Babelsberg, but
wing structure comprises over Tudor style, it now holds the subsequently, the studios were
200 richly adorned rooms and Museum of Pre-History. used to film Nazi propaganda.
The studio is still operational,
and the public can admire
some of the old sets, the
creation of special effects
and stuntmen in action.
P Einsteinturm
Albert-Einstein-Straße. Open Oct–Mar:
visits daily by arrangement with the
Urania Society (0331 291 741).
@ 691.
This tower, built in 1920–21
by Erich Mendelssohn, is one of
the finest examples of German
Expressionist architecture.
Its fantasy forms were to
demonstrate the qualities of
reinforced concrete to specta-
cular effect. However, the cost
of formwork, assembled by
boat builders, limited the use
of the material to the first storey,
while the upper floors are
The impressive Marble Hall in the Baroque Neues Palais plastered brickwork.

142-143_EW_Germany.indd 143 09/10/17 12:58 pm