Potsdam, the capital of Germany’s Brandenburg state, lies just southwest of Berlin and is best known for its grand palaces, landscaped gardens, and role as a seat of Prussian royalty. Once the residence of the kings of Prussia and later German emperors, the city reflects centuries of architectural and cultural development, earning its parks and palaces recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The crown jewel of Potsdam is Sanssouci Palace, the summer residence of Frederick the Great, often compared to Versailles for its elegance. Surrounding it, Sanssouci Park is a vast complex of terraced gardens, fountains, and ornate buildings. The Cecilienhof Palace also holds historic importance as the site of the 1945 Potsdam Conference, where Allied leaders shaped the postwar world order.