Kleines Schloss (Little Castle), Potsdam

The Little Castle (Kleines Schloss) is a historical building situated in Babelsberg Park in Potsdam. It was originally constructed around 1800 as a single-story weaver's house with five axes. This original structure still exists on the ground floor of the middle section of the castle. From 1833 to 1834, the house was expanded and elevated based on designs by Ludwig Persius, who utilized the building as a construction office during that period. Subsequently, it served various functions, including as a farm building and restaurant, before undergoing further expansions and remodeling between 1841 and 1842.

The Little Castle is located on the banks of the Tiefen See in the northern part of Babelsberg Park. It is a two-story structure with pavilion-like wings on the east and west sides, featuring gable projections, bay windows, and corner turrets. An outbuilding at the rear, built into the slope, forms an inner courtyard with the main structure.

The castle acquired its current Tudor Gothic appearance through an extension and facade redesign by Eduard Gebhardt, who based his plans on sketches by Crown Princess Augusta. Between 1844 and the late 1840s, the building became the residence of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm. Later, Countess Luise von Oriola, one of Augusta's ladies-in-waiting, occupied the castle, which was then referred to as the "ladies' house."

From 1934 to 1945, the composer and conductor Hans Chemin-Petit lived in the castle. Subsequently, it served as a rest home for DEFA, the state-owned film studio of East Germany. Since 1950, the castle has been used for gastronomy purposes. Currently, the ground floor of the castle operates as a restaurant, while the upper floor houses two apartments.