Russische Kolonie Alexandrowka

Step past the wrought iron gates and into a world of timber and tradition. This is the Russische Kolonie Alexandrowka, a curious collection of homes that whispers of a forgotten friendship between kings and soldiers. In 1825, Tsar Alexander I of Russia passed away. The Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III, deeply saddened by the loss of his dear friend, wanted to immortalize their bond. Inspired by a village near St. Petersburg, he envisioned a piece of Russia within Potsdam, a living memorial to their camaraderie. The result was a cozy cluster of 13 timbered houses, built in 1826 and 1827, which were gifted to the last 12 singers of a Russian choir, who had been captured by Prussian forces during the Napoleonic Wars. They were given a cow, a fully furnished house, and a carefully tended garden. The King didn’t want his gift to disappear, so he decreed that the houses could only be passed down through male descendants. This detail, almost a stroke of genius, ensured that the Russian legacy would be a part of Potsdam for generations to come. Walk down the tree-lined paths, your eyes drawn to the houses that stand like sentinels of history. Notice the intricate carvings on the facades, the half-round logs mimicking the style of Russian blockhouses. These houses, though built in a distant land, are a testament to a shared history and friendship.