Section II: Summary of the Periodic Report on the State of Conservation, 2006
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State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II Justification provided by the State Party GERMANY The National Castles and Parks of Potsdam- Sanssouci represent a self-contained ensemble of architecture and landscape gardening in the 18th Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and 19th century. This ensemble having an and Berlin outstanding artistic rank has its origin in the work of the most significant architects and landscape gardeners of their time in North Germany - G.W. Brief description von Knobelsdorff, C. v. Gontard, C.G. Langhans, With 500 ha of parks and 150 buildings constructed K.F. Schinkel, P.J. Lenné and their cooperators. between 1730 and 1916, Potsdam's complex of Together with highly imaginative sculptors, painters, palaces and parks forms an artistic whole, whose craftsmen, building workers and gardeners, they eclectic nature reinforces its sense of uniqueness. It have created Sanssouci, the New Garden, the Park extends into the district of Berlin-Zehlendorf, with of Babelsberg and other grounds in the surrounding the palaces and parks lining the banks of the River of Potsdam as an overall work of art of European Havel and Lake Glienicke. Voltaire stayed at the rank and inter- national standing. Sans-Souci Palace, built under Frederick II Within a few years of Knobelsdorff's work starting between 1745 and 1747. from 1740,the distinct stamp of the Rococo style under Frederick the Great as it went down in art 1. Introduction history came out successfully in architecture as well as in the invention of ornaments. A lot of works of Year of Inscription 1990, 1992, 1999 those days situated outside Potsdam have been Agency responsible for site management destroyed due to the war. That is why it is only possible to get to know this style here in Potsdam • Monument Protection Division of the Ministry of as far as the original substance and a nearly Science, Research and Culture of Land complete presentation of its development in, Brandenburg (Ministerium für Wissenschaft, different phases are concerned. This also refers to Forschung und Kultur des Landes Brandenburg, the buildings and interiors of the Berlin style of early Referat für Denkmalschutz) classicism in a comparable way. Thus, the total loss Dortustr. 36 of the living rooms, and banqueting halls in Berlin D - 14476 Potsdam enhanced the importance of those rooms and halls which have survived in their precious furnishings in • Berlin Senate Department for Urban the Castle of Sanssouci, the Marble Palace and the Development (Senatsverwaltung für Orangery in the New Garden based on designs of Stadtentwicklung Berlin) F.W. von Erdmannsdorff, C.von Gontard and C.G. Behrenstr. 42 Langhans who had also designed those rooms in D - 10117 Berlin Berlin. Schinkel's works in the area of the National website: www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de Castles and Parks Potsdam-Sanssouci have their origin in various phases of his creations. They have • Potsdam City Administration (Stadtverwaltung an exemplary influence on architects of his and the Potsdam) subsequent generations at home and abroad. The Lindenstraße 54/55 buildings of the Zaritzi-Island in Peterhof near D - 14467 Potsdam Leningrad created by A. Stakenschneider bear e-mail: [email protected] direct reference to the Roman Baths in the website: www.potsdam.de Charlottenhof part of Sanssouci Park, to mention just an example. • Berlin-Brandenburg Foundation of Prussian Palaces and Gardens (Stiftung Preußische Buildings created by Schinkel's followers, such as Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg) Persius, Stiller, Hesse and von Arnim in the area of Postfach 601462 the Potsdam Parks reveal the stylistic variety and D - 14414 Potsdam the artistic powers of the Berlin School of website: www.spsg.de Architecture around the middle of the 19th century. As late as at the beginning of the First World War, 2. Statement of Significance the Castle of Cecilienhof had been completed Inscription Criteria C (i), (ii), (iv) according to plans submitted by P. Schulze- State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II Naumburg and in cooperation with significant century, the castle and the park offer new models artisans of that time and represents the latest that they have greatly influenced the development testimony to the Brandenburg-Prussian castle of the monumental arts and the organization of building tradition. space east of the Oder. The works of architecture, sculpture, painting and Criterion IV. Like Versailles (included on the World arts and crafts which are to be found in the area of Heritage List in 1979), Postdam-Sanssouci is an the National Castles and Parks are mainly of an outstanding example of architectural creations and outstanding rank in terms of art history. Thereby, it Landscaping development associated with the is of high value that the works of art have remained monarchic concept of power within Europe. By the at their original locations. The range of the vastness of the program, these royal ensembles museums belonging to the National Castles and belong to the very distinct category of princely Parks of Potsdam-Sanssouci comprises the Picture residences such as Würzburg and Blenheim Gallery of Frederick II as one of the oldest (included on the World Heritage List in 1981 and European museum buildings with an authentic 1987 respectively). The bombing of 14 April 1945 collection and exhibition of paintings, the Palace has made it impossible to nominate to the World Museums, the Film Museum in the Marstall (Royal Heritage List the urban ensemble developed by Stables) of the Town Castle, the Historic Memorial Frederick William I in two stages: the "first new Site of the Potsdam Agreement in the Cecilienhof town", from 1721 to 1725, and the "second new Castle as well as the House for Steam-Driven town", beginning in 1733. Engines at the Have1 river being a technical museum. Latter includes demonstrations of Committee Decision historical steam-driven engines in a building dating back to 1841 - 1843 and designed by L. Persius Bureau (1990): the Bureau recommended that this with rich decorations in the Moorish sense of taste. property be included in the List and noted with satisfaction the intention expressed by the Governments of the Federal Republic of Germany As provided in ICOMOS evaluation and of the German Democratic Republic to submit With its 500 hectares of parks and its 150 a joint nomination concerning the entire site of constructions spaced over time from 1730 (hunting Potsdam-Sanssouci lodge) to 1916 (Cecilienhof), the ensemble of parks Session (1990): the Committee noted with of Potsdam is a cultural property of exceptional satisfaction that the additional nomination, including quality. ICOMOS recommends its inclusion on the the Palaces and Parks of Berlin-Zehlendorf World Heritage List on the basis of Criteria I, II and (Glienecke and Pfaueninsel), adds to the IV. coherence of the initial nomination of the Palaces Criterion I. The ensemble of the chateaux and and Gardens of Potsdam- Sanssouci. The parks of Potsdam is an exceptional artistic Committee pointed out to the German authorities achievement whose eclectic and evolutive features that it would be advisable to include the Sacrow reinforce its uniqueness: from Knobelsdorff to Church and its park in the protected area. Schinkel and from Eyserbeck to Lenné, a series of Bureau (1992): the Bureau recommended that the architectural and landscaping masterpieces have Castle and the Parks of Potsdam and Berlin be been built within a single space, illustrating extended to include Potsdam, the Park with Sacrow opposing and reputedly irreconcilable styles without Castle and Sauveur Church. detracting from the harmony of a general composition, designed progressively over time. Session (1992): the Committee decided that the Castle and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin would be The beginning of construction of Friedenskirche in extended to include the Park with Sacrow Castle 1845 is a symbol of deliberate historicism: this and Sauveur Church. "Nazarene" pastiche of San Clemente Basilica in Rome commemorates the laying, on 14 April 1745, Bureau (July 1999): the Bureau recommended that of the first stone for Sanssouci, the rococo palace this extension to the World Heritage site of the par excellence. Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin should be approved, subject to the provision of maps Criterion II. Postdam-Sanssouci -- frequently called showing revised boundaries, as agreed with the the "Prussian Versailles" -- is the crystallization of a ICOMOS expert mission. These maps should be great number of influences from Italy, England, submitted by 1 October 1999 for verification by Flanders, Paris and Dresden. A synthesis of art ICOMOS. trends in European cities and courts in the 18th State of Conservation of World Heritage Properties in Europe SECTION II Session (1999): the Committee approved this Management /Administrative Body extension to the World Heritage site of the Palaces • No Steering group: through Periodic Reporting and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin, on the World a steering group for both Berlin and Heritage List under the existing criteria (i), (ii) and Brandenburg was set up to meet regularly and (iv). bring together the stakeholders (Monument Protection Division of the Ministry of Science, Research and Culture of Land Brandenburg, as • Statement of Significance adequately defines the Supreme Authority for the Conservation of the outstanding universal value of the site Monuments, Berlin Senate Department