Böttcherberg

The Böttcherberg is a small hill in the Landschaftspark Klein Glienicke, part of the Berlin-Potsdam cultural landscape that stretches from Pfaueninsel to Werder. This UNESCO World Heritage site includes palaces and gardens recognised as a single ensemble since 1990. The hill rises 67 metres above sea level in Berlin’s Wannsee district, close to the border with Potsdam. It sits between Park Klein Glienicke and Potsdamer Park Babelsberg, separated by the Griebnitzsee and Glienicker Lake. The hill’s name comes from Christian Böttcher, who owned it from 1791 to 1804. Before that it was called Alter Weinberg for its vineyards, and earlier still Ackerberg when used for farming. In the 1830s Prince Carl of Prussia commissioned Peter Joseph Lenné to design the surrounding park. Lenné planned an observation spot with long sightlines towards lakes such as Jungfernsee and Griebnitzsee. By the 1860s this place was known as Rondell or Fächeraussicht. Near the summit stands the half-circular Loggia Alexandra, built in 1869 by Prince Carl in memory of a sister. The loggia is the hill’s most striking feature and was restored after German reunification. The original Lenné design of the hillside was also largely recovered in the late 20th century. South of the hill remnants of the old vineyard still remain.