Stiftung Gedenkstätte Lindenstraße
Stiftung Gedenkstätte Lindenstraße
4.5
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
Located in the city centre of Potsdam, the Lindenstrasse Memorial Site bears witness to the history of political persecution and violence under the different dictatorships in 20th century Germany. It is also a testament to the victory of democracy during the Peaceful Revolution of 1989/90. A permanent multimedia exhibition takes visitors through the different epochs of the former court and prison complex. Centre stage are the people who were sentenced and imprisoned there for political reasons during the National Socialist dictatorship, the Soviet occupation and the East German communist dictatorship, as well as those who played a part in bringing down this regime in 1989/90. The memorial site offers visitors an open environment for learning about history, either individually or by participating in guided tours, eyewitness discussions, project days and public events.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
44 reviews
Excellent
29
Very good
9
Average
6
Poor
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Terrible
0
Lambrettaman1960
Hastings, UK46 contributions
Sept 2022
Stumbled on this as it was just around the corner from the hotel. it doesn't seem to be promoted much on any Potsdam tourist site. It's not a comfortable place to visit as it gives an insight to the misery and suffering of the inmates during the Russian occupation and later under the Stasi. The English audio guide was good, but unfortunately all the biographies of the inmates and information boards are all in German, so unless you can read German you can only get a small insight into the stories listed there. Our audio guide said the visit would last around 45 minutes but it took us nearly two hours. Came away saddened by mans inhumanity to his fellow man, but this should not stop you from visiting. It brings home how comfortable we are in the UK and in comparison have very little to moan about.
Written September 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your good review.
Written August 14, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
alhitchcock1
Oslo, Norway151 contributions
May 2024 • Solo
Hidden behind a fassade of a nice building in the heart of Potsdam. It is a Must See ! You won't expect this.
The building was in use by the nazi regime, the soviets after 2nd WW and then by the DDR Stasi System.
In many cells you find the stories of human terror. It was so impressive and helps you to understand the history behind the scences.
The building was in use by the nazi regime, the soviets after 2nd WW and then by the DDR Stasi System.
In many cells you find the stories of human terror. It was so impressive and helps you to understand the history behind the scences.
Written May 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your good review
Written June 12, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
gypsyheart75
Melbourne, Australia173 contributions
Jul 2017 • Friends
From the outside you could be forgiven for thinking this is a small museum. It isn't. It goes on and on, a testimony to the many innocent people imprisoned by the Stasi during the Cold War. Every now and then a display in one of the rooms will capture you and drag you in, so compelling are the stories. Incredibly fascinating and worth visiting.
Written August 9, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carlo R
Milan, Italy337 contributions
Aug 2016 • Solo
From the exterior the palace located in the historical center of Potsdam looks as beautiful as its neighbors. As it's the case with the KGB prison in Vilnius, Lithuania, the external appearance is deceiving.
This building served as a prison and provisional courthouse under the Nazi rule, and it retained this function also in the years of the Soviet occupation immediately after WWII and later in the communist German Democratic Republic.
A good thing from the viewpoint of visitors is that you can walk around freely, differently from the similarly grim prison in Berlin Hohenschoenhausen, where you need to follow a guided tour. You can be inside the cells, walk along the corridors and explore the courtyard with 'tiger cages' for the 30 minutes of free air granted to the inmates - people imprisoned mainly on the base of their political views. Also two cells from Soviet times where inmates waited their deportation to the Soviet Union can be visited in the underground floor.
The panels are in German only, but the people at the reception give you a free guide in English and a much needed map of the site. From the guide you can learn of many examples of unfair treatment by judicial authorities and about political prosecution of individuals.
Extremely low entrance fee, many parking areas nearby.
An extremely interesting, uncomfortable souvenir from a previous chapter of German history.
This building served as a prison and provisional courthouse under the Nazi rule, and it retained this function also in the years of the Soviet occupation immediately after WWII and later in the communist German Democratic Republic.
A good thing from the viewpoint of visitors is that you can walk around freely, differently from the similarly grim prison in Berlin Hohenschoenhausen, where you need to follow a guided tour. You can be inside the cells, walk along the corridors and explore the courtyard with 'tiger cages' for the 30 minutes of free air granted to the inmates - people imprisoned mainly on the base of their political views. Also two cells from Soviet times where inmates waited their deportation to the Soviet Union can be visited in the underground floor.
The panels are in German only, but the people at the reception give you a free guide in English and a much needed map of the site. From the guide you can learn of many examples of unfair treatment by judicial authorities and about political prosecution of individuals.
Extremely low entrance fee, many parking areas nearby.
An extremely interesting, uncomfortable souvenir from a previous chapter of German history.
Written August 25, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
simoncross1
United Kingdom78 contributions
May 2016 • Solo
An absolutely excellently preserved prison museum - 3 floors of cells each with its own story to tell. Unfortunately all exhibits are described in German only although I was given a brief guide book at the entrance in English but it was not well coordinated with the museum layout. Nevertheless the experience was excellent if rather chilling to recall how recently these things happened and the treatment handed out by the stasi to their fellow countrymen and women for really trivial matters.
Written June 5, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
businesstraveler2031
Lisbon, Portugal95 contributions
Nov 2019
Besides their extraordinary permanent collection, this museum presents amazing temporary exhibitions. Earlier this year, there was one of the Third Reich and when we returned in November, there was an exhibition on the Red Army's occupation of Potsdam. The woman at the Kasse, is one of the nicest and most informative museum staff that we have ever encountered. She goes above and beyond in providing information about the museum and exhibitions. Of course, she only speaks German, just a heads up.
Written December 22, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ritchie B
59 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
I did not think I would be so interested in Potsdam!
This was an excellent museum with some genuinely interesting and engaging exhibits.
The museum was laid out chronologically and I particularly found the medieval aspects of the town to be of interest.
The only small (literally) problem was the tiny sizes of the information placards next to each exhibit. They were far too small and some almost on floor level. They could be better thought out.
This was an excellent museum with some genuinely interesting and engaging exhibits.
The museum was laid out chronologically and I particularly found the medieval aspects of the town to be of interest.
The only small (literally) problem was the tiny sizes of the information placards next to each exhibit. They were far too small and some almost on floor level. They could be better thought out.
Written February 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
R K
Merrylands, Australia53 contributions
Sept 2017 • Friends
I have been to Potsdam several times and have always missed going here. From the outside it looks like an ordinary villa, but behind is an entire prison. The thought that this was in use not that long ago makes the horrors of the time more confronting. Everything is in German but there are video recordings of former inmates which have English subtitles. While English descriptions would be good, you don't need them to understand how life would have been at the time. Great value for the entry price and definately worth a visit.
Written September 28, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
spacepilot500
Roswell, NM704 contributions
May 2018 • Solo
There is a lot of history here for only about 3 Euros. Prior reviews mention descriptions being in German only, but most of the exhibits had signs and descriptions in English below the ones in German, so they may have been recently added.There is also a special exhibit room containing photographs. You tour at your own pace, but an employee was quick to grab me after I started looking at exhibits and tell me the proper way to see the museum in chronological order. One display has maps and photographs of the building and area over the last hundred years, and drawings going back before that. Its interesting to see the changes in the area, along with descriptions of migration of various residents over the years.
Written May 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marie A
6 contributions
Jun 2016 • Family
The building itself has a long history but the story of the 20th century is fascinating. Personal stories from those persecuted during the Third Reich through to those persecuted by the Stasi. The entrance is very reasonable at 1:50 Euros and although the exhibits are not in English, the helpful very helpful curator gives you a guide book in English with corresponding map of the museum. Well worth it
Written June 12, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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