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Germany Potsdam Brandenburg Museum

Villa Schöningen

Villa Schöningen
About

Villa Schöningen in Potsdam is a historic villa turned exhibition space that bridges art, history, and memory at the former border of East and West Germany. Built in 1843 in Italianate style by Ludwig Persius, the villa overlooks the Glienicke Bridge—famous for Cold War spy exchanges—and stands as a symbol of division and reunification. Since its reopening in 2009, Villa Schöningen has hosted contemporary art exhibitions alongside historical displays that explore themes of freedom, civil courage, and German unity. The permanent exhibition “The Wall. A Border Through Germany” features personal stories, photographs, and artifacts that document life under the GDR regime and the peaceful revolution of 1989. The villa’s elegant architecture and landscaped garden offer a contemplative setting for reflection and dialogue. Privately operated, it combines cultural programming with civic education, making it a unique venue in Potsdam’s museum landscape. Its proximity to the Glienicke Bridge enhances its role as a place of remembrance and artistic engagement.

Potsdam Germany
Location

Villa Schöningen is located at Berliner Straße 86 in Potsdam, directly beside the Glienicke Bridge—the historic “Bridge of Spies” connecting Potsdam with Berlin. Designed in 1843 by Ludwig Persius for Kurd von Schöning, the villa is a masterpiece of Italianate architecture and forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage ensemble of the Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin. Today, it functions as a museum and exhibition space featuring changing shows of contemporary art alongside a permanent exhibition about the Cold War and the bridge’s symbolic significance as a site for spy exchanges between East and West. The surrounding gardens, originally designed by Peter Joseph Lenné, host outdoor sculpture exhibitions and a summer café overlooking the Havel River. Nearby, visitors can also explore Glienicke Palace and Park, Babelsberg Park, the Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island), and the lakeside promenades offering scenic walks along the river connecting Potsdam and Berlin-Wannsee.​

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