Schloss Caputh

Schwielowsee, Germany

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Schloss Caputh, located on the banks of the Havel River in Schwielowsee near Potsdam, Germany, is the only surviving palace from the era of the Great Elector Frederick William of Brandenburg.

Built around 1662 by architect Philipp de Chièze, it was gifted by the Elector to his second wife, Electress Dorothea, who transformed the modest manor into an elegant Baroque summer residence. Under her direction, the palace gained ornate stucco ceilings, frescoes, and richly decorated chambers that reflected the grandeur of 17th-century Prussian court life.

Later, King Frederick I of Prussia continued its embellishment and hosted the famous “Meeting of the Three Kings” in 1709, attended by monarchs from Prussia, Denmark, and Saxony. King Frederick William I, known as the “Soldier King,” added the palace’s most distinctive feature — the Tiled Dining Hall lined with over 7,500 Dutch faience tiles, creating a cool retreat for summer banquets.

In the 19th century, the surrounding park was redesigned by landscape architect Peter Joseph Lenné, and the palace remained in private hands until World War II. Used as a vocational school during the East German period, it was restored to its former beauty between 1995 and 1999.

Today, Schloss Caputh serves as a museum displaying Baroque art, porcelain, and furnishings, and hosts concerts, exhibitions, and cultural events, offering a glimpse into the refined world of Brandenburg’s early rulers.