Chinesisches Haus im Park Sanssouci
Rococo pavilion in Park Sanssouci with gilded figures, porcelain and chinoiserie decor, open for visits from May to October.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Frederick the Great had the Chinese House built by the architect Johann Gottfried Büring, following his own sketches. The pavilion in the chinoiserie style was erected between 1755 and 1764; the Seven Years' War considerably delayed construction, so the interior furnishing of the cabinets only followed after 1763. The cloverleaf-shaped floor plan is modeled on a French precedent, the Maison du trèfle in Lunéville.
The building served as garden decoration and as a backdrop for smaller celebrations. Gilded, life-size figures characterize the exterior; the sculptors Peter Benckert and Johann Gottlieb Heymüller created the theatrical sculptures. Palm-like columns, ceiling paintings with imaginative "Chinese" society scenes, and porcelain on gilded consoles shape the interior. Chinoiserie was fashionable at many European courts in the 18th century.
In 1789 the neighboring Chinese Kitchen was remodeled. From 1990 to 1993 the house was restored, and original wall coverings were reconstructed. Today the Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten (Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation, SPSG) looks after the house, which visitors can tour without a guide.
Highlights
- Cloverleaf-shaped chinoiserie pavilion by Johann Gottfried Büring (1755–1764)
- Gilded, life-size figures by Peter Benckert and Johann Gottlieb Heymüller
- Porcelain on gilded consoles and ceiling paintings
- Palm-like columns inside
Permanent exhibition
- China, ein Gast in Sanssouci – Chinoiserie-Pavillon – The pavilion shows European chinoiserie fashion of the 18th century, with gilded figures, porcelain on consoles and ceiling paintings.
- Operated by
- Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4 |
| sanssouci+ (day ticket for all open SPSG palaces in Potsdam) | €22reduced €17 |
| sanssouci+ family ticket (up to 2 adults and 4 children) | €49 |
| Potsdam family ticket (up to 2 adults and 4 children, excluding Sanssouci Palace) | €30 |
Free admission with the SPSG annual pass. Tickets are available at the palace ticket desks, at the visitor centers and online.
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 wheelchair-accessible. For conservation reasons, strollers are not permitted in the exhibition rooms; assistance dogs are welcome.
Kids & families
- Stroller-friendly: not available
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Potsdam, Charlottenhof Bhf/Geschw.-Scholl-Str. · 1.3 km
Stop "Potsdam, Charlottenhof Bhf/Geschw.-Scholl-Str.", then about 1,300 meters on foot.
Between Grünes Gitter and the Neues Palais (New Palace), a free park shuttle runs daily from April to October from 11:00 to 17:30 on the service road in Park Sanssouci. Address: Am Grünen Gitter, 14469 Potsdam.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Coat check: not available
- Lockers: not available
No luggage storage in the entrance area. Cafés nearby in the park (e.g. Café Caroline, Theaterklause, Café Repin); museum shop in Sanssouci Palace.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Audio guide | yes (DE, EN, ES, FR, IT, PL) |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Independent visit without a guided tour. The free "SANSSOUCI" app (App Store, Google Play) offers multilingual content. |
