Frederick the Great's famous summer palace, Schloss Sanssouci, was designed by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff in 1747; the rococo jewel sits daintily above vine-draped terraces with the king's grave nearby. Admission is limited and by timed ticket only; book online to avoid wait times and/or disappointment. Otherwise, only city tours booked through the tourist office guarantee entry to the Schloss.
Standouts on the audioguided tours include the Konzertsaal (Concert Hall), whimsically decorated with vines, grapes and even a cobweb where sculpted spiders frolic. The king himself gave flute recitals here. Also note the intimate Bibliothek (library), lidded by a gilded sunburst ceiling, where the king would seek solace amid 2000 leather-bound tomes ranging from Greek poetry to the latest releases by his friend Voltaire. Another highlight is the Marmorsaal (Marble Room), an elegant white Carrara marble symphony modelled after the Pantheon in Rome.
As you exit the palace, don’t be fooled by the Ruinenberg , a pile of classical ‘ruins’ looming in the distance: they’re merely a folly conceived by Frederick the Great.
