UNESCO World Heritage in Potsdam

On December 12, 1990 the “Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin” were included on the UNESCO world heritage list, because of their uniqueness, recognizable influence on the history of art and their evidently connection with historical worldwide important events.

Based on a comprehensive plan for the beautification of the ‘island Potsdam’ of the famous landscape gardener Peter Joseph Lenné, the palaces and gardens of Potsdam became a unique cultural landscape in the 19th century. Landscaped characteristics were intertwined with parks to a whole formation without an equal. A monarchist state concept and civil emancipation efforts created the background for the formation of this landform.

Today the world heritage of Berlin and Potsdam covers an area of more than 500ha and extends from the Peacock Island on the east to the New Palace on the west. It includes the palaces and parks of Sacrow, Glienicke, Babelsberg, New Garden, Sanssouci, Charlottenhof and Lindtsted.

In 1992 and 1999, other parts of the cultural landscape were included on the world heritage list. To these belongs the Linden Alley west of the New Palace, the former Kaiserbahnhof, Lindtstedt Palace, Bornstedt with a church and cemetery, colony Alexandrovka and the observatory in Babelsberg. The special protection, which grants the world heritage status of the royal parks and parts of the town, contains the obligation of a careful handling with the heritage and consideration during modern construction projects.