Gothische Bibliothek (Gothic Library), Potsdam

Gothische Bibliothek, known in English as the Gothic Library, is a two-story, octagonal tower surrounded by an arcade. The Gothische Bibliothek is made of sandstone with a neo-Gothic design. It includes a spiral staircase that leads outdoors to the terrace and a basement with large, stone arches. The tip of the building hosts a golden spire.

The library was constructed in 1794 at the behest of King Friedrich Wilhelm II. It was designed by Carl Gotthard Langhans to mimic a Gothic chapel, both inside and out.

The Gothische Bibliothek contained French literature and German classics. It did not contain the king's secret library, which was held in the Marble Palace. These books were moved to the Potsdam City Palace in the 1930s and were subsequently burned during World War II.

The building fell into great disrepair but was reconstructed in 1997. The tower remains closed to the public due to its unstable foundation.

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Sight Name: Gothische Bibliothek (Gothic Library)
Sight Location: Potsdam, Germany (See walking tours in Potsdam)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Neuer Garten Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Potsdam, Germany

Create Your Own Walk in Potsdam

Creating your own self-guided walk in Potsdam is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Sanssouci Park Walking Tour

Sanssouci Park is a unique Potsdam landmark that occupies 290 hectares in the heart of the city. The Park is named after the Sanssouci Palace that it surrounds, which in turn takes its name from the French phrase "sans souci", which means carefree, and implies that the palace was designated as a place of fun, rather than a seat of power.

Indeed, the Sanssouci Palace was built in 1747... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles

Neuer Garten Walking Tour

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Between 1816 and 1828, the area was modified further as an English-style, open landscape garden, with an aim to reproduce nature 鈥� trees and plants were left to grow naturally, unshaped and untrimmed. Rural life was also... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles

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Potsdam was likely founded during the seventh century by the Hevelli tribe. The town was mentioned by the name of Poztupimi in a document from Emperor Otto III. The name likely came from an old Western Slavonic term roughly meaning "beneath the oaks."

By the early 1300s, a small town had formed with a town charter. By 1573 the town had around 2,000 people living there. Potsdam rose to... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles

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