Marstall of the Potsdam City Palace
Discover the Marstall of the Potsdam City Palace, the oldest surviving building in the city and today the Film Museum Potsdam. Built in 1685 in Baroque style, the Marstall houses a rich collection on the history of Studio Babelsberg. Enjoy daily film screenings, including silent films with historical organ accompaniment. Immerse yourself in the world of film, from its beginnings to today.
Table of contents
Marstall of the Potsdam City Palace: Oldest Surviving Building in the City of Potsdam
The Marstall in Potsdam is a significant architectural monument on Breite Straße. It was built in 1685 by Johann Arnold Nering in the Baroque style as an orangery. Throughout history, the building has been renovated and expanded several times. The former royal stable of the City Palace is the oldest surviving building in the city and has housed the Filmmuseum Potsdam since 1981.
The Marstall is an elongated single-story Baroque building with an added half-story. Characteristic features include evenly spaced round-arched window arcades between Tuscan pilasters and a triglyph frieze. The facade is marked by projections with half-columns and attics, as well as sculpture groups of horse tamers, indicating its original use as a stable. As the oldest structure in central Potsdam, the Marstall is the only surviving monumental building in the immediate palace area.
In 1746, the Marstall received its present appearance on behalf of Frederick the Great, by architect Andreas Krüger. The building was expanded and redesigned, continuing the characteristic elements of the window arcades. Monumental sculptures and decorations adorn the projections and portals.
After various uses over time, including as a garrison museum and cipher office for the Luftwaffe during World War II, the Marstall was ultimately saved in the 1960s as the site for the Filmmuseum. Following restoration work between 1977 and 1980, the Filmmuseum Potsdam opened its doors in 1981. The Marstall was last renovated in 2014 and has also housed a restaurant since 2003.
Marstall of the Potsdam City Palace: Now Film Museum Potsdam
Today, the Marstall is home to the Film Museum Potsdam, the oldest of its kind in Germany. Established in 1981 as the “Film Museum of the GDR,” it has been active under its current name since 1990. The museum belongs to the state of Brandenburg and is associated with the Film University Babelsberg. It primarily focuses on the world’s oldest film studio, Studio Babelsberg, and its works. Exhibitions cover the history of film productions by Bioscop, Ufa, DEFA, and Studio Babelsberg. Visitors can enjoy daily film screenings in the museum cinema, including silent films with historical Welte cinema organ accompaniment. The permanent exhibition “Traumfabrik – 100 Years of Film in Babelsberg” illuminates the long history of the Babelsberg film studios. Changing special exhibitions and interactive themed rooms provide insights into various film topics and processes.
The museum also houses a shop and café for visitors. Since German reunification, the museum has developed significantly, expanded its program, and enlarged its collections. It is a member of the Deutsche Kinemathek Association and offers visitors the chance to experience the history of film from its origins to the present.
Address
Breite Str. 1A, 14467 Potsdam