Norman Tower on RuinenbergA Tower with a View
Open during special events
This house is open during special events.
The Norman Tower on Ruinenberg is one of the historical lookout points in Potsdam. The 360° view takes in a panorama that spans from the small palace on Peacock Island, across the entire breadth of Sanssouci Park, to Wilhelmshöhe near Werder.
In the mid-18th century Frederick the Great had a water basin erected on Ruinenberg, also known as the Mount of Ruins, to supply water to the fountains in Sanssouci Park. He surrounded the basin with an artistic arrangement of gigantic columns, a Doric rotunda and a pyramid – which were reflected in the water – a wall of ruins made to look like an ancient theater and a natural backdrop of trees. Influenced by settings in England, it was one of the first scenic landscapes with decorative architecture on the continent.
The nearly 23 meter-high Norman Tower, based on a medieval watchtower, was erected in 1846 under King Frederick William IV. Concurrently Peter Joseph Lenné integrated Ruinenberg and the surrounding fields of the Bornstedt estate into Sanssouci Park.
To the info page of the venue
The Doric rotunda in the guise of an ancient monopteros was in danger of collapse and could be restored in 2013–14 thanks to generous contributions. These measures were supported within the framework of the German investment program for UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Investitionsprogramms Nationale UNESCO-Welterbestätten (IUNW), with funding from the Federal Republic of Germany (Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety) and the state capital of Potsdam, as well as from the private patron Gerhard Elsner.
Norman Tower on Ruinenberg [Normannischer Turm]
Ruinenberg
14469 Potsdam
Open during exhibitions and special events. If exhibitions and events are taking place, you will find them here (Please note: This content is only available in German.)
Visitor Centre Historic Windmill in Sanssouci Park
An der Orangerie 1
14469 Potsdam
Closed Mondays
Visitor Centre New Palace in Sanssouci Park
Am Neuen Palais 3
14469 Potsdam
Closed Tuedays
info@spsg.de
Phone: +49 (0) 331.96 94-200
- not wheelchair accessible
Unfortunately, exhibition spaces are not wheelchair accessible.
Unfortunately, for conservation reasons the use of baby carriages and strollers is not permitted in exhibition spaces.
In the surroundings you will find the following dining options:
‘coffee bike’
on the ‘forum’ near to the Chinese House
Café Caroline
at the Visitor Centre at the New Palace (South Gate Building / "Südtorgebäude")
Theaterklause
near the entrance "Grünes Gitter"
Augustiner im Bürgerbahnhof
next to the station "Park Sanssouci"
Café Repin
near Picture Gallery and Sanssouci Palace
Drachenhaus Restaurant & Cafe im Park Sanssouci
between "Paradiesgarten" and Belvedere Klausberg
Lottenhof / Bill's Kitchen
near Charlottenhof Villa
Zur Historischen Mühle
near Sanssouci Palace
Please note: No luggage or baggage may be left in the entrance area of the palace for security and safety reasons.
Unfortunately, there are no facilities for storing larger pieces of luggage or similar baggage on the premises of this historical site. We appreciate your understanding.
The SPSG offers a free shuttle service between the Grünes Gitter (Green Grille) and the New Palace on the so-called “Ökonomieweg” in Sanssouci Park from April to October, daily from 11 am to 5.30 pm.
As the shuttle service is only made possible by the voluntary work of the drivers, we ask for your understanding if the service is not always available. Unfortunately, the shuttle service is also not available during heavy rain.
