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The vineyard of the Lord

Below the “Communes”, the outbuildings of the Neues Palais, until recently all hell was let loose. Since 1999 it was the location of the student’s club “Nil” where not only the students of Potsdam University partied subterraneously with wine and music. Already during the time of the GDR the vaulted cellars that resemble catacombs were a popular meeting place.
The vineyard itself is not far away. It was established and cared for by the former member of the guard, Werley. He came from the Rhineland and was determined to bring the winegrowing tradition of his homeland to Potsdam. It was decided that the future winemaker should also live close to his Dionysian sphere of action – king Frederick had the Drachenhaus constructed to include his living quarters. Unfortunately, Werley fell out of grace. It remains uncertain whether the gardeners at Sanssouci refused to be advised by a soldier from the Rhineland and plotted to remove him or whether bad harvests were the reason. The pretty house remained uninhabited until 1787; since 1934 it is used as a restaurant.