In Potsdam, the Royal Seat of the Brandenburg-Prussian rulers, master builders and artists created a fascinating ensemble of palaces, parks and gardens in the space of only three centuries. The initial ideas on incorporating the surrounding lakes and hills into the future picture of the city were already developed during the construction of the Potsdam City Palace (1662-1669).
However, it was not until the 19th century that the idea of Potsdam as a "paradise isle" became a reality, thanks to the landscape architect Peter Joseph Lenné. He united the various palaces and parks into a unique park landscape which was designated as a "world cultural heritage site" by UNESCO in 1990.