Cities
Germany Potsdam Brandenburg Historical Landmark

Gartendirektionsgebäude

About

The Gartendirektionsgebäude in Potsdam is a historic garden administration building located at Am Grünen Gitter 7, just south of Sanssouci Palace. Commissioned by Frederick the Great in 1752 and designed by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff, the building originally served as the residence of court gardener Johann Samuel Sello. It later housed successive directors of the royal gardens, including Friedrich Zacharias Saltzmann and Johann Gottlob Schulze, from whom the building took its name. Architecturally, the Gartendirektionsgebäude forms a gateway ensemble with the adjacent Gartenkassengebäude, marking a symbolic entrance to Sanssouci Park. In the early 20th century, Kaiser Wilhelm II added a southern extension to the structure. Today, the building is used by the Stiftung Preußische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg (SPSG), which oversees the preservation of Potsdam’s palaces and gardens. With its understated elegance and historical significance, the Gartendirektionsgebäude remains a quiet yet integral part of the UNESCO-listed cultural landscape of Sanssouci.

Potsdam Germany
Gartendirektionsgebäude
Location

The Gartendirektionsgebäude is located within the Botanical Garden of the University of Potsdam at Maulbeerallee 2, on the northern edge of Sanssouci Park. This historic building once housed the headquarters of the royal garden administration and today serves as part of the university’s botanical and research facilities. Surrounded by the lush greenery of the Botanical Garden, it sits near the Orangery Palace and the scenic Paradise Garden, both admired for their 19th-century landscape design by Peter Joseph Lenné. The garden features tropical greenhouses, ponds, and thematic plant areas including alpine, aquatic, and medicinal collections. Nearby attractions in Sanssouci Park include Sanssouci Palace, the New Palace, and the Antique Temple. The area is easily accessible from Potsdam city centre via the stops Friedenskirche or Luisenplatz-Nord/Park Sanssouci.​

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