Schloss Marquardt

Schloss Marquardt stands beside the Havel River fifteen kilometres northwest of central Potsdam. The palace sits in the village of Marquardt, surrounded by parkland and water. Its brick façade rises three storeys under a steep slate roof. The building began as a summer house for the Prussian nobility in the 18th century. Later owners enlarged it and added winter apartments. For a time it became a luxury hotel before serving as a military hospital in the Second World War. After 1945 it housed parts of Potsdam University. The palace is worth visiting for its changing roles and its appearances on screen. It has been a filming location for Ridley Scott’s Spencer and for The Book Thief. The German band Rammstein shot the Haifisch music video in its grounds. These modern uses sit alongside its earlier life as a noble residence and a place of healing. The building’s adaptability shows in its varied storeys and outbuildings. Each phase of its history left traces in the layout and decoration. Inside, visitors find a mix of historic rooms and modern event spaces. The grand staircase leads to halls with parquet floors and tall windows. One wing still holds the original winter apartments with carved woodwork. The former hotel lobby now serves as a restaurant foyer. Outside, the park offers walks along the riverbank and views across the water. The palace gardens contain old trees and a small jetty for boats. The setting remains calm despite the building’s busy calendar of weddings and film shoots.