Potsdam was a residence of the Prussian kings and the German Kaiser until 1918 . Its planning embodied ideas of the Age of Enlightenment : through a careful balance of architecture and landscape , Potsdam was intended as " a picturesque , pastoral dream " which would remind its residents of their relationship with nature and reason . The city lies in area of interconnected lakes and is distinguished by a series of cultural landmarks , in particular the parks and palaces of Sanssouci , the largest World Heritage Site in Germany . The Potsdam Conference in 1945 was held at Cecilienhof Palace
Potsdam Conference
Potsdam Conference
Potsdam