Potsdam combines world heritage, enriching sources of knowledge and royal tolerance. However, the designation “isle of inspiration” is not only appropriate from a philosophical point of view, but also in relation to the city’s geographical location. The River Havel, the Große Zernsee lake, Lake Templin and the Sacrow-Paretzer Canal lap the shores of Potsdam, turning Brandenburg's capital into an island.
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Located in the southwest next to Berlin, Potsdam claims to have the highest number of palaces per inhabitant in Germany. Prussia’s kings and prince electors created a fascinating retreat comprising palaces and parklands. Many parts of the overall ensemble were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1990. The biggest World Heritage Sites in Potsdam are Sanssouci Park with its famous palace of the same name, New Garden where world-changing decisions were made and Babelsberg Park, which is the masterpiece of Peter Joseph Lenné and Prince Hermann von Pückler-Muskau. Apart from the parks there are a lot more UNESCO World Heritage Sites waiting to be explored.
Images first started moving in the city of Babelsberg, which is now a part of Potsdam. The world’s first silent film was made here in 1912. Marlene Dietrich and Heinz Rühmann were the star idols at UFA, where today George Clooney and Tom Hanks are making cinematic history. There are numerous examples are international blockbusters. In 2019, Potsdam was designated the first German UNESCO Creative City of Film.
Adjacent to Berlin, Potsdam during the Cold War years was the hotspot for eastern and western secret services and the Glienicke Bridge (Bridge of Spies) was used for exchanges of captured spies. From here, only a 20 minutes-walk away, at Cecilienhof Country House the Potsdam Conference was held in 1945. It was here where the allies Soviet Union, United Kingdom and the United States agreed to divide Germany into four occupation zones, which later led to the division of Europe.