The final palace commissioned by Frederick the Great, the Neues Palais has made-to-impress dimensions, a central dome and a lavish exterior capped with a parade of sandstone figures. The interior attests to the high level of artistry and craftsmanship of the 18th century. It's an opulent symphony of ceiling frescoes, gilded stucco ornamentation, ornately carved wainscoting and fanciful wall coverings alongside paintings (by Antoine Pesne, for example) and richly crafted furniture.
The palace was built in only six years, largely to demonstrate the undiminished power of the Prussian state following the bloody Seven Years War (1756–63). The king himself rarely camped out here, preferring the intimacy of Schloss Sanssouci and using it for representational purposes only. Only the last German Kaiser, Wilhelm II, used it as a residence until 1918.
Since the massive structure has been undergoing gradual restoration for years, not all rooms may be accessible. Among the most impressive are the rococo Grottensaa l (Grotto Hall), the Marmorsaal (Marble Hall) and the Unteres Fürstenquartier , an especially elaborately styled guest apartment whose dining room walls are sheathed in richly red silk damask with gold-braided trim.
The pair of lavish buildings behind the Schloss is called the Communs . It originally housed the palace servants and kitchens and is now part of Potsdam University.
