Cecilienhof

Cecilienhof Palace, built between 1914 and 1917, was designed as a residence for Germany’s last Crown Prince Wilhelm of Prussia and his wife Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Architect Paul Schultze-Naumburg created the palace in the style of an English country house, visible in the herringbone-patterned wooden beams adorning the asymmetrical walls.

The structure also features passageways leading to inner courtyards decorated with Baroque reliefs. Crown Prince Wilhelm, a member of the Hohenzollern dynasty, lived here until the end of World War II. The Hohenzollern family remained until February 1945, though Wilhelm had already left due to his numerous affairs, which caused his separation from Cecilie. Cecilienhof’s importance extends beyond its royal inhabitants.

In July 1945, the Potsdam Conference was held here, where the leaders of Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union gathered to finalize the decisions made earlier at Yalta. These agreements divided Germany into occupation zones and shaped Europe’s post-war order.