Orangery Palace

Potsdam, Germany

The Orangery Palace (Orangerieschloss) was built by the Romantic on the Throne, Friedrich Wilhelm IV from 1851 to 1864. The architects Friedrich August Stüler and Ludwig Ferdinand Hesse designed it in the style of the Italian Renaissance, after the image of the Villa Medici in Rome and the Uffizi in Florence.

The middle building with its twin towers is the actual castle. This building is joined to the 103 meter long and 16 meter wide Plant Hall, with its almost ceiling-to-floor windows on the south side. In the western hall, the original floor duct heating system is still present and functioning. In the alcoves along the garden side of the castle annex, there are allegorical figures of the months and seasons. In the corner building at the end of the Orangery Hall were the royal apartments and the servants' quarters.

In front of the peristyle Elizabeth, Friedrich Wilhelm IV's wife, had a statue of the king erected in Memoriam after his death in 1861.

Behind the portico, in the middle building, lies the over two-story-tall Raffael Hall. It was based on the Sala Regia in the Vatican. Over a large skylight in the high clouded ceiling, light falls into the Museum Hall. On the red silk covered walls, hang over fifty copies of Renaissance paintings. Friedrich Wilhelm IV inherited the images from his father, Friedrich Wilhelm III, and brought them here together.

The royal apartments were outfitted in the second Rococo style, connected to both sides of the Raffael Hall. They were intended as guest rooms for Tsar Nicholas I and his wife, Alexandra Feodorovna. The Tsarina was the favorite sister of Friedrich Wilhelm IV, Charlotte, who gave up her name along with her homeland when she married.

The gardens were styled after those of the Italian Renaissance by the garden architect, Peter Joseph Lenné. In the west, below the annex, he designed the Paradise Garden in 1843/1844. In it are many exotic flowers and foliage plants. The atrium, a small building in middle of the compound, designed in the ancient style, was built on plans by Ludwig Persius in 1845. The current Botanical Garden, with its systematically arranged planting, is used by the University of Potsdam as a teaching garden.

The Norse and Sicilian Gardens lie to the east. These completely different garden sections were laid out by Lenné between 1857 and 1860. The dark, effective Norse Garden, with its pines, was to have been an element of the planned triumph street. The Sicilian Garden, with its palm tubs, myrtles, laurels, flowers, arcades, and fountains, runs jovially southward.

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Details

Founded: 1851-1864
Category: Palaces, manors and town halls in Germany
Historical period: German Confederation (Germany)

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Khairur Azhan (17 months ago)
The Orangery Palace has a beautiful and symmetrical design with a central pavilion and wings. Its exterior features impressive columns, statues, and a dome with a lantern on top. The palace is surrounded by stunning gardens and terraces, perfect for relaxing and enjoying nature. The gardens offer a picturesque backdrop for outdoor activities like picnics and photography. The palace's gardens are meticulously maintained and provide a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere. You can explore the gardens, discover hidden pathways, and find scenic viewpoints. The palace's exterior and gardens make it a great spot for capturing Instagram-worthy photos. Visiting the Orangery Palace allows you to immerse yourself in the beauty of its architecture and the serenity of its gardens.
EricTheTurtle (17 months ago)
Closed since March due to major renovations! Will be complete in June of 2029! Looks pretty from the outside though :)
Berk Yıldırım (2 years ago)
there are 5 rooms inside, they give you big slippers to wear over your shoes and an information sheet explaining the rooms. it was a great experience to wander around the castle.
Ji Hoon Lim (2 years ago)
My favorite place in Potsdam! Ever since I discovered this palace, I visit here on a regular basis - twice or three times a week. There are so many things I love about this place: First of all, I like the tranquility and the minimalistic Italian-like architecture. Second, there’s this stunning ‘green corridor’ connecting here and ‘Belvedere’ to the west. Third, you can smell the citrusy scent when you go there at winter times. Lastly, you can sometimes see a choir practicing under the open dome structure, if you’re lucky. I prefer Orangerieschloss to any other palace in Potsdam. Definitely recommendable with a score of 10/10. Enjoy the relaxing time here! :)
Karol Giraldo (3 years ago)
Such a beautiful place!! The weather was lovely so the castle looked even better. It’s closed right now and from what I saw it was full of monuments on the inside ? but definitely a place to visit
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