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Dampfmaschinenhaus: A Pumping Marvel Disguised as a Mosque

A unique blend of architectural grandeur and technological innovation, resembling a mosque while housing a historic steam engine.

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The Dampfmaschinenhaus, or Steam Engine House, in Potsdam is an architectural curiosity built between 1841 and 1843. Designed by Ludwig Persius to resemble a mosque, complete with a minaret disguising a chimney, it served as a pumping station for the Sanssouci Park's fountains. Today, it stands as a monument to 19th-century engineering and a unique historical landmark.

A brief summary to Dampfmaschinenhaus „Pumpenhaus / Moschee“

Local tips

  • Visit during the opening season (May to October) on weekends or public holidays for guided tours and to see the steam engine in operation.
  • Combine your visit with a tour of Sanssouci Park, as the Dampfmaschinenhaus is located just outside the park.
  • Take tram line 91 from Potsdam train station to the Feuerbachstraße stop for easy access.
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Getting There

  • Public Transport

    From Potsdam Central Station (Hauptbahnhof), take tram line 91 towards Kirschallee to the Feuerbachstraße stop. The Dampfmaschinenhaus is a short walk from the tram stop. A single fare ticket within Potsdam AB zone costs approximately €3.80.

  • Walking

    From the Sanssouci Palace, walk northeast along Breite Straße for approximately 15-20 minutes. The Dampfmaschinenhaus will be on your right, next to the Neustädter Havelbucht. There are no tolls or parking fees associated with this approach.

  • Taxi

    A taxi from Potsdam Central Station to Dampfmaschinenhaus will cost approximately €10-€15 and take around 10 minutes, depending on traffic. There are no tolls on this route.

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Located on the Neustädter Havelbucht, the Dampfmaschinenhaus is one of Potsdam's most charming and exotic buildings. King Frederick William IV, a romantic and enthusiast of technology, commissioned the building to demonstrate Germany's technological superiority over England. Designed by Ludwig Persius, it was constructed between 1841 and 1843 to resemble a Turkish mosque, with a minaret cleverly concealing the chimney. This unique design earned it the nickname "Potsdam Mosque". The building housed an 81.4-horsepower steam engine built by August Borsig in 1842. This engine pumped water from the Havel River through a 1.8 km pipe to supply the fountains in Sanssouci Park, enabling the Great Fountain to reach a height of 38 meters. The original engine operated for 50 years before being replaced by a more powerful 160-horsepower engine, which was used until 1937. While modern electric pumps now supply water to the fountains, the Dampfmaschinenhaus remains intact as a monument of technical achievement. Since September 1985, it has been a public museum, offering guided tours on weekends and public holidays from May to October. Visitors can marvel at the original Borsig steam engine and explore a permanent exhibition on the building's history and machinery.

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