SPSG begins tree removal at Sanssouci Palace on 7 October
Published on 10/11/2026 at 02:06 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKey points in brief
- The Stiftung Preussische Schloesser und Gaerten announced tree work beside Sanssouci Palace on 5 October 2026.
- Tree felling began on 7 October 2026 at the Great Fountain south of Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam.
- Paths between the Great Fountain and the Eastern Lustgarten were closed during the three- to four-day operation announced for 7 October 2026.
- Several replacement trees are planned for spring 2027 after the removal announced on 7 October 2026.
The Stiftung Preussische Schloesser und Gaerten began removing a diseased tree beside Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam on 7 October 2026, with the palace identified locally by its German name. The work followed an announcement on 5 October 2026 and affected paths in the section south of the building.
Tree removal began south of Sanssouci Palace on 7 October
The operation concerns the last of four large copper beeches planted in the parterre beside the Great Fountain. The tree stands below the vineyard terraces, directly south of the palace, and the operator said its stability could no longer be guaranteed because of severe fungal damage.
The Stiftung Preussische Schloesser und Gaerten listed the work in its press material on 5 October 2026 under the heading Lenné's copper beech. A report by the 7 October operation said the felling was expected to take three to four days and required paths between the Great Fountain and the Eastern Lustgarten to close temporarily.
Sanssouci Palace terraces frame the affected park area
The palace sits beside its vineyard terraces and retains eighteenth-century interior decoration, according to the palace operator. Frederick the Great used the summer residence as a retreat, and his grave is on the highest terrace after his reburial there in 1991.
The tree work therefore took place in the formal setting immediately below the terraces rather than at a remote edge of the wider grounds. This links the current access change to one of the principal views of the residence: visitors approaching the Great Fountain encounter the area where the historic planting structure is being altered.
The same complex includes the Picture Gallery and the New Chambers. The operator describes the palace as a self-guided visit with fixed admission times, while its current visitor information gives the address as Maulbeerallee, 14469 Potsdam. The operator's palace information also lists the public transport stop Potsdam, Schloss Sanssouci.
Replacement planting is planned for spring 2027
The removal changes the appearance of the parterre for the longer term. After the trunk is removed, the root is to be milled out and part of the soil replaced, while several new trees are planned for spring 2027.
The decision follows repeated assessments of the tree's condition over the previous 25 years, as reported on 7 October 2026. Its loss also marks a change to a group originally comprising four copper beeches, leaving replacement planting to restore the formal arrangement over time.
Visiting Sanssouci Palace: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Tree felling began on 7 October 2026 beside the Great Fountain south of the palace; the reported work period was three to four days.
- Paths between the Great Fountain and the Eastern Lustgarten were closed during the operation, while the lasting change is the planned replacement planting in spring 2027.
- The address is Maulbeerallee, 14469 Potsdam. The operator lists the public transport stop Potsdam, Schloss Sanssouci and the Historic Windmill car park.
- The palace is beside terraced vineyards, and the route through the grounds includes formal garden paths and sloping terraces.
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Frequently asked questions about Sanssouci Palace
What changed at Sanssouci Palace on 7 October 2026?
Tree felling began beside the Great Fountain south of the palace because a copper beech was no longer considered stable.
Where is Sanssouci Palace and how do you get there?
It is on Maulbeerallee in Potsdam, Germany, and the operator lists the public transport stop Potsdam, Schloss Sanssouci.
What is Sanssouci Palace?
It is Frederick the Great's former summer residence beside vineyard terraces, with eighteenth-century interiors and the king's grave on the highest terrace.
