New Chambers, Berlin Travel Guide

The New Chambers, or Neue Kammern, are situated in Sanssouci Park, Potsdam, serving as a counterpart to the Picture Gallery and complementing Sanssouci Palace. Initially constructed as an orangery in 1747 by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff, it housed potted plants from the palace terraces during winter.In 1768, Frederick the Great decided to convert the orangery into a guest palace. Architect Georg Christian Unger oversaw the transformation from 1771 to 1775, retaining much of the original structure while adding a dome to achieve symmetry with the Picture Gallery. The interior was redesigned with banquet halls and guest rooms in the late Frederician Rococo style.The New Chambers feature opulent interiors, including the Jasper Hall with walls lined with jasper and adorned with ancient busts, and the Ovid Gallery with gilded wall reliefs. Guest apartments showcase lacquered, painted, and inlaid cabinets with views of Potsdam. These rooms represent a high point of Frederician Rococo, with detailed ornamental and gold embellishments.Since 1990, the palace and gardens of Sanssouci, including the New Chambers, have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, visitors can explore the meticulously restored rooms and experience the ambiance of a royal guest palace.