Belvedere on the Pfingstberg

Belvedere on the Pfingstberg
Belvedere on the Pfingstberg
Belvedere auf dem Pfingstberg
	The Belvedere on the Pfingstberg
General information
Type	Palace, viewing structure
Architectural style	Renaissance Revival
Town or city	Potsdam
Country	Germany
Groundbreaking	1847
Completed	1863
Renovated	1988-2005
Landlord	Stiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Ludwig Persius,; Friedrich August Stüler,; Ludwig Ferdinand Hesse [de],; Peter Joseph Lenné (gardens)
Website
	Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Part of	Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin
Criteria	Cultural: (i), (ii), (iv)
Reference	532ter
Inscription	1990 (14th Session)
Extensions	1992, 1999

The Belvedere on the Pfingstberg (Template:Lang-de) is a large structure north of the New Garden in Potsdam, Germany, at the summit of Pfingstberg hill. It was commissioned by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia and built between 1847 and 1863 as a viewing platform.

Because of its architecture and historical importance, the Belvedere forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin, inscribed in 1999.^[1]

History

It was commissioned by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia and as completed is only part of a substantially more extensive project for the hilltop site. The Belvedere was built, as its name suggests, as a viewing platform for visitors and contains only two modest scale rooms for entertainment, one in each upper tower. The mural decoration of these (Roman-Etruscan and Moorish, respectively) is mostly now lost.

Architecturally eclectic, the two towers are modelled on Italian Renaissance architecture whilst the wings are Roman in style and some of the detailed decoration is Greek-inspired. It was constructed between 1847 and 1863 with an interruption from 1852 to 1860.

Based on sketches from the King, the architects, Ludwig Persius, Friedrich August Stüler and Ludwig Ferdinand Hesse [de], drew detailed plans. The landscape architect Peter Joseph Lenné was responsible for the design of the grounds which are planted in the manner of the English landscape garden, with serpentine paths and dense copses of hardwood trees. These now obstruct views of the Belvedere from the park and almost all points in Potsdam, but are apparently as designed by Lenné.

The Belvedere fell into disrepair during World War II and was left abandoned in the period of the German Democratic Republic. It was repaired between 1988 and 2005 by an association formed by a group of local residents. Today, the Belvedere is open to visitors and is still managed by the Förderverein Pfingstberg e.V. who won major financial backing for the restoration.^[2] Major contributors included the Hermann Reemtsma Stiftung and Werner Otto.^[3]

Description

The twin prospect towers from which the view over Potsdam is achieved rise above a very high podium. This is in the form of a three-sided courtyard with central reflecting pool. The three sides of the courtyard are themselves each capped with viewing terraces under colonnades - two Corinthian and one with astylar round arches.

Visitors ascend by many steps both outside and inside, with the final ascent being made via a narrow iron spiral staircase. Because of the dense tree planting of the park the view can only be achieved from the upper level.