External Area Inner Courtyard Exhibitions and Events Historical Development With its location on the Alter Markt (Old Market The Fortunaportal (Fortuna Gate) was the first The Landtag is not only a place for political The site of the former City Palace is one of the Square), directly in the centre of Potsdam, the part of the former City Palace to be recon- discussion about the state affairs of Branden- oldest settlement areas in Potsdam. The site Landtag building, housing the state parliament structed true to the original, and was complet- burg. It is also a place where the state presents had been home to various fortresses, castles A tour of the of Brandenburg, is part of a very attractive and ed in 2002. Among others who played a signif- and exchanges ideas regarding the diversity and palace buildings, as the Great Elector Fred- charming architectural ensemble. Designed by icant role in raising funds for the project was of its regions with their various cultural, social erick William ordered a new palace to be built King Frederick II of Prussia in the Roman style, Potsdam- based television presenter Günther and economic characteristics. For this reason, in the Dutch style between 1664 and 1669. The Landtag Brandenburg the square formed the centre of Potsdam until Jauch, who donated one million euros. The top the building regularly hosts exhibitions on top- initial architectural feature, the Fortunaportal, the middle of the 20th century. Its rebuilding and of the deep blue dome of the gate supports a ics of current social relevance. was constructed in 1701 and remained almost A modern parliament in a historic building restoration has been the objective of extensive gilded copper statue of the Roman goddess Together with external cooperation partners, unchanged until the destruction of the City Pal- construction measures, which began after the Fortuna atop a gilded column. It is over two the Landtag administration organises tempo- ace in the mid-20th century. In 1740 Freder- turn of the millennium. East side of the building with newly planted Bittschriften- Main entrance with the two illusionist pavilions from the City Palace in ruins after 1945 linde (Petition Lime Tree) (© Landtag Brandenburg) project “Kunst am Bau” (© Landtag Brandenburg) (© Bildarchiv Preußischer Kulturbesitz) Musical accompaniment of an exhibition opening in the from 1920 to 1932/33. In the immediate vicinity modern interior architecture of the Landtag foyer (© Landtag Brandenburg) ond World War, the building burned down to the stands the so-called Bittschriftenlinde (Petition Brandenburg. Visitors pass by the staircase on outer walls as a result of a major attack by the Lime Tree), which was returned to its old loca- their way to the Landtag foyer. Originally built first introduced in 2016 to further open up the British Royal Air Force on April 14, 1945. tion in 2015. According to legend, it served as by the architect Knobelsdorff using the axis of Landtag as a place of social dialogue for its In 1959/1960, the ruins were completely a focal point for the population in Frederick II’s the main wing as a façade portico, the room’s citizens. To this end, various artistic forms of demolished following a decision by the GDR time to address complaints or petitions to the exterior is original, while its interior has been presentation and performance – from music state leadership. After years of standing dere- monarch. The original tree was felled in 1949, reconstructed true to the original, including the and painting, to literature and film, dance and lict, construction of a new theatre on the Alter and a new one was planted in 1993. staircase and some rudiments of the vivid ar- theatre – are embedded in the political and Markt began in the late 1980’s. Following the On the west side of the building, the so- tistic interior that still exist. Six original reliefs parliamentary concept. peaceful revolution in the autumn of 1989, the Landtag Brandenburg called Ringerkolonnade (Wrestler Colonnade), Inner courtyard with Fortunaportal (Fortuna Gate) and the decorate the staircase. Individual visitors usually have the opportu- City Palace from southwest, painting by Johann Friedrich shell was demolished in 1991. Alter Markt (Old Market Square) with Fortunaportal originally connected the City Palace with the St. Nikolaikirche (St. Nicholas Church) nity to visit the Landtag building twice a month, Meyer, 1773 (© Wikimedia Commons) On May 20, 2005, the Landtag passed a Alter Markt 1, 14467 Potsdam (© Landtag Brandenburg) (Fortuna Gate) (© Landtag Brandenburg) Pleasure Garden Stables, the current home of Exhibition in the foyer on Fridays from 4 to 5 p.m., as part of an open resolution to build a new parliament building Phone 0331 966-0 the Potsdam Film Museum. Partially destroyed (© Landtag Brandenburg) guided tour. It is also possible to attend plena- ick II became king of Prussia. He developed within the outline of the historic City Palace. A Fax 0331 966-1210 In the immediate vicinity of the Landtag during World War II, the open colonnade was metres high, weighs about five hundredweight, ry or committee meetings as a guest. Regis- Potsdam into a residential town, and in 1745 subsequent citizens’ survey in the city of Pots- [email protected] building are the St. Nikolaikirche (St. Nicholas not rebuilt in its old location on the edge of the and it rotates in the wind. The two upper key- rary exhibitions in the Landtag foyer at regu- tration via the in-house visitor service (phone: he entrusted the architect Georg Wenzeslaus dam resulted in clear approval for a new par- www.landtag.brandenburg.de Church), designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel adjacent Steubenplatz until 2016. Not far from it, stone heads represent the ancient mythical fig- lar intervals. The exhibitions are related to the 0331 966-1253/1255, e-mail: besucherdienst@ von Knobelsdorff with the reconstruction of the liament building on the Alter Markt. A consor- (1781–1841), and the Altes Rathaus (Old Town on the façade of the Landtag building – loosely ures of Hercules and Minerva. The Fortunapor- state of Brandenburg and the topics of poli- landtag.brandenburg.de) is required. In princi- Baroque palace in the Friderizian Rococo style. tium of bidders led by the Royal BAM Group Follow us: Hall), as well as the Potsdam Museum – Forum based on René Magritte – is the gilded letter- tal forms the main entrance to the Landtag, and tics, parliamentarianism and social participa- ple, the Landtag building is open to the public After the abdication of the Hohenzollerns in with architect Prof. Peter Kulka was awarded for Art and History, as well as the Museum Bar- ing “Ceci n’est pas un château.” (English: This behind this passage is the Landtag building’s tion. As a rule, each exhibition is scheduled to from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday to Friday. 1918, the palace was no longer used as a res- the contract for the building project. The foun- berini with its collections of GDR and post-1990 is not a palace). Potsdam artist Annette Paul public courtyard. Lawns and paved areas are run for three months. idence. In the course of extensive construc- dation stone was laid on February 16, 2011, and reunified German art. won second place in the 2011 “Kunst am Bau” geometrically arranged here, and benches pro- In the corridor areas of the south wing, the tion work, a meeting hall for the city council- the completed building was handed over to the Since 1755, the centre of the Alter Markt has (“A Percent for Art”) contest with this concept. vide for quality of stay. Landtag also presents larger, freely accessi- lors, as well as committee and parliamentary Landtag on October 10, 2013. It was officially been marked by the Obelisk, made of marble Two illusionist pavilions have been erected ble annual art exhibitions. These are usual- group rooms were built. At the end of the Sec- inaugurated in January 2014. originally decorated with the portraits of four on the lawns by the artist Florian Dombois as ly organised in cooperation with one of the Prussian kings based on designs by Georg part of the “Kunst am Bau” competition, con- Brandenburg state museums, which contri- Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff (1699–1753). To- structs which are clearly modelled on the cen- bute their extensive collections for this pur- day, Potsdam’s four most important architects tral oval of the Schloss Sanssouci (Sanssouci pose. The selection of artworks focuses on are immortalised in their place. In addition to Palace). They clearly emphasize the Landtag’s contemporary works, primarily by Branden- Knobelsdorff and Schinkel, Carl von Gontard proximity to Potsdam’s main tourist landmark, burg artists. The exhibitions are opened with (1731–1791) and Ludwig Persius (1803–1845) whose counterpart, the City Palace, was once a celebratory vernissage. Access is free for all are also commemorated. Since 2013, the square the summer residence of the Prussian kings, visitors during the opening hours of the Land- on the southeast side of the Landtag has been while they retained the former as their winter tag building. named after Otto Braun (1872–1955), the last residence. In addition to the exhibitions that run con- West façade with Ringerkolonnade (Wrestler Colonnade) freely elected Social Democratic Prime Minis- with the inscription “Ceci n’est pas un château.” The Knobelsdorff staircase forms the link Knobelsdorff staircase tinuously, the Landtag offers an additional for- Tour during a vernissage The Landtag building from the east in cross section