Dampfmaschinenhaus (Moschee)
Moorish-style pumping house of 1841–43, built in the form of a mosque, where the historic Borsig steam engine is demonstrated.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
King Friedrich Wilhelm IV had the Dampfmaschinenhaus on the Neustädter Havelbucht built in 1841 to 1843 by Ludwig Persius. It was to supply the fountains in Sanssouci park with Havel water, and the functional building was given the form of a Moorish mosque, which fit picturesquely into the Potsdam landscape. It is considered the only pumping house in the Moorish style, and at the time it could be seen from Sanssouci Palace.
In October 1842, the steam engine built by August Borsig, with 81.4 PS, went into operation for the first time. It was the most powerful machine in Prussia and made the great fountain in front of the palace rise to 38 meters. The king wanted to show that Prussia could keep pace with England technically.
Today, modern electric pumps supply the fountains with water. The historic engine has been preserved, however, and is still demonstrated in operation during guided tours, so visitors can experience nineteenth-century technology up close. The house belongs to the Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten (SPSG); it is only accessible on a guided tour and on a few selected dates each year.
Highlights
- The only pumping house in Moorish style
- Original Borsig steam engine with 81.4 PS, which runs during guided tours
- Built by Ludwig Persius for Friedrich Wilhelm IV
- Once supplied the 38-meter fountain in front of Sanssouci Palace
- Mosque-style architecture on the Havel bay
Permanent exhibition
- Historische Dampfmaschine und Pumpenhaus – During the guided tour, the preserved Borsig steam engine of 1842 is shown in operation; it once fed the fountains of Sanssouci.
- Operated by
- Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4Pupils, students, trainees, people with disabilities (GdB 50 or higher), and recipients of ALG I unemployment benefit |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 6 · Children under 7 years old have free admission. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Free admission with GdB 100; reduced from GdB 50. |
| Students & apprentices | €4Pupils, students, trainees, BFD/FSJ volunteers, with proof |
| Ticket sanssouci+ (Potsdam palaces on one day) | €22reduced €17 |
| Ticket sanssouci+ family (up to 2 adults and 4 children) | €49 |
Individual tickets are only available on site at the box office.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The exhibition rooms are not accessible to wheelchair users. Assistance dogs are welcome.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 6 |
|---|
- Stroller-friendly: not available
For conservation reasons, strollers may not be taken into the exhibition rooms.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Potsdam, Feuerbachstr.
Stop "Potsdam, Feuerbachstr."
Address: Breite Straße 28, 14467 Potsdam.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Coat check: not available
- Lockers: not available
There is no place to leave luggage in the listed rooms.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Visits by guided tour only, in German; information is available in other languages. Groups book through the SPSG group service (gruppenservice@spsg.de, 0331 9694-222). |
