Are you in the mood for a real art mystery? Starting November 18, 2026, a truly sensational discovery will take its place in the Upper Red Chambers of the New Palace in Potsdam’s Sanssouci Park. The painting “The Holy Family” by Charles Le Brun, created around 1655, is returning to its original home after more than eight decades. The Prussian King Frederick the Great once personally purchased the work for his stately palace before it vanished without a trace amid the turmoil following World War II. Thanks to the Ernst von Siemens Art Foundation and the Friends of the Palaces, you can now marvel at the original work once again.
From the royal palace to the Berlin auction house: A cinematic odyssey
The story behind the painting reads like a thriller. After Frederick II had the painting of the Sleeping Infant Jesus hung in a guest apartment, the war drew nearer in 1942. To protect the art treasures, the work was moved to Rheinsberg Castle in Brandenburg. The last official trace of it there dates back to July 30, 1945. For decades, there was no sign of life—until the lost masterpiece unexpectedly resurfaced at a Berlin auction house in 2021.
Who exactly was Charles Le Brun?
If the name doesn’t ring a bell: Charles Le Brun (1619–1690) was the undisputed superstar of the French art scene in the 17th century. As a protégé of Cardinal Mazarin, he rose to become the chief court painter to the “Sun King,” Louis XIV. He shaped the entire style of the Palace of Versailles, headed the Royal Academy, and virtually single-handedly dictated what was considered chic at the French court.
Here’s how to get to Potsdam comfortably
By car, you can reach the Neues Palais from Berlin-Mitte via the A115 (Potsdam-Babelsberg exit) in about 45 minutes; parking is available right at the visitor center. If you prefer public transportation, simply take the RE1 to Potsdam Hauptbahnhof and then take bus lines 605 or 606 directly to the palace gate.
📍 Location: Neues Palais (Upper Red Chambers), Am Neuen Palais 3, 14469 Potsdam
📆 Date and time: Starting November 18, 2026 (presentation at 2:30 p.m.); regular hours Wed–Mon 10:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (Nov–March), closed Tuesdays
⏳ Duration: approx. 60 to 90 minutes for the guided tour of the palace
💵 Cost: €14 regular, €10 reduced (Grand Tour incl. scheduled entry time)
