Fancy a glimpse into Frederick the Great’s lavish lifestyle? Right here we stand before the Neue Kammern.
The Neue Kammern in Potsdam began as something far more practical than a guest palace. It started as an orangery in 1747. Frederick the Great needed a place to shelter his beloved citrus trees during the harsh winters. Imagine this long building filled with the fragrant blossoms of orange trees.
But Frederick’s ambitions soon outgrew the simple orangery. He decided to transform it into a guest palace between 1771 and 1775. The Neue Kammern would serve as a place to host dignitaries and important guests. He wanted to relieve some pressure from the rather small Sanssouci Palace.
The exterior of the Neue Kammern retains the horizontal feel of the original orangery. Look closely at the south side. You’ll see two single-axis side projections and a central projection topped with a cupola. This cupola was a later addition. It was added to create symmetry with the Bildergalerie.
Take note of the attica sculpture by Friedrich Christian Glume. Kronos, the symbol of time, peers over a cartouche. A globe with Freemason symbols references Frederick’s affiliation with the Freemasons. Putti planting orange trees hint at the building’s past.
Inside the Neue Kammern, a series of opulent rooms awaits. The Jasper Hall stands out. Red jasper and grey Silesian marble adorn its walls. The ceiling painting depicts Venus and her entourage.
The Blue Gallery served as an entrance hall. It owes its name to the blue panels on the white stucco marble walls. These panels imitate lapis lazuli. The Buffet Hall once held porcelain vessels. Keramikerin Heidi Manthey created modern faience pieces in 1987 to mimic the original look.
The Ovid Gallery showcases scenes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Fourteen gilded stucco reliefs depict tales of love and transformation. Frederick II used these themes in his concert halls.
Don’t miss the guest apartments in the west wing. These rooms feature intricate decorations. Some are designed as lacquer, picture, or intarsia cabinets. The Große Intarsienkabinett displays elaborate woodwork. Different woods create a beautiful effect. Craftsmen even used hot sand to darken the edges of the wood.
Outside, the terraces once displayed 26 Carrara marble statues. These statues depicted mythological figures. They complemented the sculptures above. Today, many have been restored.
Notice the statues by Asmus Frauen. Antinous, Endymion, Apoll and Narcissus each has its own story. The statues add to the beauty.
The Neue Kammern is more than just a beautiful building. It reflects Frederick the Great’s passions. It shows his love for art, nature and hospitality. It is a testament to the king’s desire to create a place of beauty. A place of wonder for his guests.