Cities
Germany Potsdam Brandenburg Historical Landmark

Antique Temple

Antique Temple
About

The Antique Temple in Potsdam is a neoclassical rotunda built in 1768–69 by Carl von Gontard for Frederick the Great, designed to house his collection of classical art and antiquities. Located in the western part of Sanssouci Park near the New Palace, the temple features a circular layout with ten Tuscan columns and a domed roof, evoking ancient Roman architecture. Originally conceived as a museum, it once displayed marble urns, bronze figurines, antique coins, and gems, reflecting Frederick’s passion for classical civilization. The interior was lined with Silesian marble and adorned with busts and vessels arranged on wooden benches and brackets. Since 1921, the temple has served as a mausoleum for members of the House of Hohenzollern, including Auguste Victoria, wife of Emperor Wilhelm II. Though not open to the public, the temple remains a serene landmark within the park, admired for its architectural elegance and historical significance. It complements the nearby Temple of Friendship, forming a symbolic axis of memory and legacy in Potsdam’s royal landscape.

Potsdam Germany
Location

The Antique Temple is located in the western part of Sanssouci Park in Potsdam, near the New Palace and north of the Central Alley. This small, round Neoclassical temple was built between 1768 and 1769 by architect Carl von Gontard for Frederick the Great to house his extensive collection of classical art, antique artifacts, coins, and gems. Architecturally, it features ten Tuscan columns surrounding the rotunda and a 16-meter diameter cupola with oval windows that provide natural light. The temple’s interior is adorned with grey Silesian marble, antique busts, life-sized marble statues, and a coin chamber with thousands of numismatic treasures. Since 1921, it has served as a mausoleum for members of the House of Hohenzollern and is not open to the public. The temple is set within the beautifully landscaped Sanssouci Park, close to other landmarks like the Temple of Friendship, the New Palace, and the Orangery Palace, forming a central part of Potsdam’s UNESCO World Heritage palaces and parks.​

Sanssouci Park Sanssouci Park Potsdam Neuer Garten Neuer Garten Potsdam Potsdam Museum – Forum für Kunst und Geschichte Potsdam Museum – Forum für Kunst und Geschichte Potsdam House of Brandenburg-Prussian History House of Brandenburg-Prussian History Potsdam Memorial and Encounter Site Leistikowstraße Potsdam Memorial and Encounter Site Leistikowstraße Potsdam Potsdam Lindenstraße Memorial Foundation Lindenstraße Memorial Foundation Potsdam Museum Alexandrowka Museum Alexandrowka Potsdam Jan Bouman House Jan Bouman House Potsdam Nowaweser Weberstube Nowaweser Weberstube Potsdam Im Güldenen Arm Im Güldenen Arm Potsdam Waisenhausmuseum Potsdam Waisenhausmuseum Potsdam Potsdam Filmmuseum Potsdam Filmmuseum Potsdam Potsdam Natural History Museum Potsdam Natural History Museum Potsdam Potsdam Historic Mill of Sanssouci Historic Mill of Sanssouci Potsdam Extavium Extavium Potsdam URANIA-Planetarium Potsdam URANIA-Planetarium Potsdam Potsdam Museum Barberini Museum Barberini Potsdam DAS MINSK Kunsthaus in Potsdam DAS MINSK Kunsthaus in Potsdam Potsdam museum FLUXUS+ museum FLUXUS+ Potsdam Villa Schöningen Villa Schöningen Potsdam New Palace Potsdam New Palace Potsdam Potsdam Belvedere Castle on the Pfingstberg Belvedere Castle on the Pfingstberg Potsdam Hans Otto Theatre Hans Otto Theatre Potsdam Reithalle Reithalle Potsdam Theaterschiff Potsdam Theaterschiff Potsdam Potsdam T-Werk T-Werk Potsdam Kabarett Obelisk Kabarett Obelisk Potsdam Fabrik Potsdam Fabrik Potsdam Potsdam Open Air Kinosommer am Waschhaus Open Air Kinosommer am Waschhaus Potsdam Kunstraum Potsdam Kunstraum Potsdam Potsdam Galerie KUNST-KONTOR Galerie KUNST-KONTOR Potsdam Kunstverein KunstHaus Potsdam e.V. Kunstverein KunstHaus Potsdam e.V. Potsdam a|e Galerie a|e Galerie Potsdam Kunsthaus sans titre Kunsthaus sans titre Potsdam Sperl Galerie Sperl Galerie Potsdam Ausstellungspavillon des Brandenburgischen Kunstvereins Potsdam e. V. Ausstellungspavillon des Brandenburgischen Kunstvereins Potsdam e. V. Potsdam Charlottenhof Palace Charlottenhof Palace Potsdam Pheasantry Pheasantry Potsdam Sanssouci Palace Sanssouci Palace Potsdam Nauen Gate Nauen Gate Potsdam Gartendirektionsgebäude Gartendirektionsgebäude Potsdam Bank mit Havelblick Bank mit Havelblick Potsdam Orangerieschloss Orangerieschloss Potsdam Chinesisches Haus Chinesisches Haus Potsdam Marmorpalais Marmorpalais Potsdam Römische Bäder Römische Bäder Potsdam Flatowturm Flatowturm Potsdam Bornstedt Crown Estate Bornstedt Crown Estate Potsdam Schloss Babelsberg Schloss Babelsberg Potsdam Schloss Sacrow Schloss Sacrow Potsdam Park Babelsberg Park Babelsberg Potsdam Freundschaftsinsel Freundschaftsinsel Potsdam Volkspark Potsdam Volkspark Potsdam Potsdam Botanischer Garten Potsdam Botanischer Garten Potsdam Potsdam Normannischer Turm Normannischer Turm Potsdam Obeliskportal Obeliskportal Potsdam Neptune Grotto Neptune Grotto Potsdam Temple of Friendship Temple of Friendship Potsdam Garnisonkirche Garnisonkirche Potsdam Wochenmarkt am Nauener Tor Wochenmarkt am Nauener Tor Potsdam Floh- & Bauernmarkt am Weberplatz Floh- & Bauernmarkt am Weberplatz Potsdam Muschelgrotte Muschelgrotte Potsdam Jägertor Potsdam Jägertor Potsdam Potsdam Winzerberg Potsdam Winzerberg Potsdam Potsdam Friedenskirche Friedenskirche Potsdam Kolonnade mit Triumphtor Kolonnade mit Triumphtor Potsdam Einstein Tower Einstein Tower Potsdam Wasserturm Potsdam Hauptbahnhof Wasserturm Potsdam Hauptbahnhof Potsdam St. Nicholas Church Potsdam St. Nicholas Church Potsdam Potsdam Church of the Redeemer Church of the Redeemer Potsdam Loggia alexandra Loggia alexandra Potsdam Stoffmarkt Holland Stoffmarkt Holland Potsdam Fortunaportal Fortunaportal Potsdam Gutspark Gutspark Potsdam Brandenburg Gate Postdam Brandenburg Gate Postdam Potsdam

User attributes