Neuer Garten Walking Tour (Self Guided), Potsdam

Laid out at the behest of Friedrich William II in 1787, Potsdam's Neuer Garten (New Garden) was indeed "new" compared to the already in place Sanssouci Park.

Between 1816 and 1828, the area was modified further as an English-style, open landscape garden, with an aim to reproduce nature – trees and plants were left to grow naturally, unshaped and untrimmed. Rural life was also "rediscovered" in the form of browsing cows made part of the scene; their milk was processed to butter and cheese right on the site, at the northwest corner of the park, in the Meierei (Dairy). The latter is still in place and today houses a lakeshore restaurant.

A short walk down the path along the Jungfernsee lake leads to the Muschelgrotte (Shell Grotto). Currently restored, this location, along with other pieces of the garden architecture, back in the day served the king as a place of mystical purification. Interestingly enough, at the time of the Berlin Wall, the entire lake shore area here was sealed off by wire fence.

Not far off is the Cecilienhof Castle, the last palace of the Hohenzollern dynasty, erected between 1913 and 1917. The imperial crown prince lived here with his family until 1945 – that same year, the Potsdam Conference took place in the palace.

Further afield is the Green House, one of the summer houses designated by their color, alongside the Brown, the Red, and suchlike houses survived to this day.

When the park trees thin out, in autumn, the Marmorpalais (Marble Palace) comes into view. This summer residence of Frederick II's successor, Friedrich Wilhelm, in East Germany times served as an army museum.

Overall, the sprawling Neuer Garten in Potsdam covers 102 hectares of land and is dotted with a plethora of architectural gems. If you wish to admire them up close, follow this self-guided walk.