Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin


Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin are a group of palace complexes and extended landscape gardens located in the Havelland region around Potsdam and the German capital of Berlin. The term was used upon the designation of the cultural ensemble as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1990. It was recognized for the historic unity of its landscape—a unique example of landscape design against the background of monarchic ideas of the Prussian state and common efforts of emancipation.

Extent

Initially, the world heritage encompassed 500 hectares, covering 150 construction projects, which spanned the years from 1730 to 1916. Until the Peaceful Revolution of 1989, these areas were separated by the Berlin Wall, running between Potsdam and West Berlin, and several historic sites were destructed by 'death strip' border fortifications.
Two stages of extension to the World Heritage Site, in 1992 and 1999 led to the incorporation of a larger area. The Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation Berlin-Brandenburg, which administers the site, puts the area at 2,064 hectare.

1990 designation