Karoline Hugler will be reading from her work on Friday, 8 May at 7 pm in the café at Villa Schöningen.
The Potsdam-based actress, author and artistic co-director of the Comédie Soleil Theatre in Werder (Havel) will present her debut novel, Sea of Sunflowers (Erzählverlag, 2024).

The story follows two people on the run: a soldier and a deserter, as well as a child full of dreams who has fled a loveless children’s home. Together, they form a fragile community of solidarity that must prove itself.
The novel tells the moving story of friendship and courage in wartime. Set during World War II, it is a timeless narrative that will appeal to children aged 10 and over as well as adults.

Taking place on Liberation Day, the reading invites readers to revisit history from a personal narrative perspective.

Funded by the Brandenburg Literature Council with support from the Ministry of Science, Research, and Culture of the State of Brandenburg.

PROGRAM

All day from 12 to 6 pm

Villa Schöningen and its historic garden are open to you free of charge. Our staff will be happy to talk to you about the history and architecture of the site. In addition, a children’s program will take place in the garden. To help you experience Potsdam’s unique views and sightlines even better, bicycles and SUPs will be available for rent that day. Our café will provide you with refreshments on site.

Villa Schlieffen is also open to you free of charge all day.

12 –6 pm – Discover Villa Schlieffen

2 pm and 4 pm: Guided tour on the history of Villa Schlieffen (registration at info@villa-schoeningen.de)

All day: Historical introduction to the history of Villa Schlieffen.

12 pm – Guided tour on the history of Villa Schöningen (registration at info@villa-schoeningen.de)

3 pm – Jazz concert by Michael Gechter Trio

End the day in the garden with a relaxed atmosphere and musical accompaniment by the Irma Neumüller Duo, and share your impressions with us. The café bar will remain open later.

Michael Gechter – Guitar
Carla Lené – Vocals

Michael Gechter is one of Berlin’s most prominent jazz guitarists, having shaped an entire era and performed with many international greats. A household name and sought-after mentor when it comes to passing on his expertise to a younger generation, achieving the ultimate guitar sound, or stripping music down to its essentials!
Carla Lené discovered her passion for jazz while studying classical vocal performance. Her repertoire of jazz standards and original songs stems from a very broad understanding of music. She presents this with a compelling, warm voice and charisma, as well as her very own, genre-spanning style.

We are pleased to invite you to our upcoming exhibition “On Paradise”.

The exhibition On Paradise explores one of the most enduring concepts in cultural history. At Villa Schöningen, it unfolds as a spatial movement through interior spaces and the surrounding garden. Historical pictorial traditions enter into dialogue with contemporary artistic positions, opening new perspectives on myth, the body, and nature. Paradise emerges not as a lost place, but as a projection of the present shaped by desire, control, and overstimulation.

To mark the opening of the new exhibition at Villa Schöningen, the Berlin-based jazz duo of Irma Neumüller and Seth Sjöström will provide musical accompaniment with their intimate and soulful renditions of jazz standards and original compositions, creating a warm and expressive soundscape.

Villa Schöningen invites you to a curatorial tour of the exhibition On Paradise on 7 June at 2 pm. Curator Pola van den Hövel will offer insights into the exhibition’s central questions and guide visitors through the parcours spanning the interior spaces and the garden.

At the core of the exhibition lies the question of where the idea of paradise has led us over the centuries—and how it continues to shape our understanding of nature, the body, and social order today. Drawing on historical visual traditions as well as contemporary artistic positions, paradise unfolds not as a lost place, but as a projection: a site of longing, a promise, and a space of control.

The tour invites visitors to explore these tensions together and to consider paradise not as a destination, but as a cultural construction of our present.

Three authors, three literary voices, three culinary creations: the successful series Lecker Lesen brings together literature and gastronomy for a special evening at Villa Schöningen.

Between courses, the invited authors read from their latest books, offering diverse perspectives on relationships, social dynamics, and personal experiences. An evening that moves between lightness, depth, and sensory pleasure.

Readings by:
Eva-Martina Weyer from Tabakpech (Edition Stroux)
Dr. Nicole Lenz from Wenn der Biss nicht passt (Telemach)
Florentine Joop from Sommer im Heckenrosental (Edition Outbird)

Moderated by Tini Anlauff

Lisa Bassenge, a singer-songwriter, performs from Berlin to audiences around the world. While jazz is her home base, she explores a wide range of styles and genres.
Doors open at 4 pm, and the ticket price includes admission to the art exhibition on the premises, which you can visit before the concert. Our café offers homemade food and drinks, and Villa Schöningen provides what is arguably the most beautiful garden setting for a jazz concert.

Villa Schlieffen will once again be open for tours on Sunday, June 14, at 11 am. A wonderful opportunity to explore this historic site free of charge and learn more about its fascinating past.

The villa has been open to visitors again since 2023 and is presented in the condition in which it was left after the withdrawal of the Soviet military.

The impressive work “Sanctus” by Barbara Hammer, which is part of the Döpfner Collection, is also currently on display.

You are welcome to register for a free tour via info@villa-schoeningen.de.

As part of the Potsdam Sanssouci Music Festival, the Bicycle Concert will make a stop at Villa Schöningen. We are very much looking forward to welcoming the participants to the villa’s garden this afternoon.

Look forward to several short concerts in a special atmosphere:
1.15 pm
1.45 pm
2.15 pm
2.45 pm
(approx. 20 minutes each)

Featuring: Anna Herbst (vocals) and Camilla Hoitenga (flute)

The Café Pedales at Villa Schöningen invites you to linger with coffee, refreshing drinks, and a selection of pastries. Bicycle parking and restroom facilities are, of course, available.

On June, 25th, figure drawing with a live model will once again take place in the exhibition “On Paradise” at Villa Schöningen.

Under the guidance of artist Katrin Seifert, this opportunity is open to all art enthusiasts, regardless of your level of experience. The exhibition provides an inspiring backdrop for your figure drawings. No previous knowledge is required! Please bring your own drawing materials, such as sketch pads, pencils, and a sturdy surface (A3).

Please note that the number of participants is limited. To secure your spot in the figure drawing class, we recommend registering in advance by email at info@katrinseifert-art.de.

City guide Kerstin Zarbock will give a comprehensive tour on the history of Villa Schöningen, which played a key role in German-German history. Located directly on the former inner-German border, the villa was the scene of significant events, particularly in the context of the spy exchanges at Glienicke Bridge.

The tour focuses on the significance of the house during the GDR era and sheds light on how this place became a symbol of the Cold War.

On Sunday, June 28, Kunsthaus Potsdam, Kunstraum Potsdam and Villa Schöningen invite you to a joint bike tour that will take art lovers through the current exhibitions.

The tour starts at 12 noon at Kunsthaus Potsdam. Curator Sophia Pietryga will introduce the current exhibition “Anna Haifisch & Jay Gard – Fell und Stahl”. The tour will then continue to Kunstraum Potsdam, where artistic director Mike Geßner will guide visitors through the exhibition by Armando.

The exhibition concludes with a visit to Villa Schöningen, which offers an exclusive glimpse into the exhibition “On Paradise”. Curator Pola van den Hövel will give a short tour!

After the inspiring art viewing, the park of Villa Schöningen invites you to a cozy picnic. Guests are warmly invited to either purchase refreshments from Café Pedales or bring along something to share with the group.

Reading and Discussion as Part of LIT:potsdam

With Samantha Cristoforetti and Josef Aschbacher

Moderator: Anne-Dore Krohn

In her book *Die lange Reise* (The Long Journey), astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti offers personal insights into her time aboard the International Space Station (ISS). In conversation with Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA), they will discuss current space missions, scientific visions, and Europe’s role in space. Together, they will talk about technology, research, and the fascination of the universe—spanning personal experience and a global perspective.

Reading and Discussion as part of LIT:potsdam

With Sibylle Anderl
Moderator: Dirk Lorenzen

Gazing at the starry sky is one of humanity’s oldest experiences—and at the same time marks the origins of philosophical thought. Between wonder, doubt, and existential uncertainty, the universe raises questions about knowledge, origins, and our place in the cosmos.

In her book “Das Universum und ich” (The Universe and I), astrophysicist and philosopher Sibylle Anderl combines scientific perspectives with philosophical questions and demonstrates how closely the two fields are intertwined. The discussion will focus on the vast dimensions of the cosmos, the limits of human imagination, and the significance of cosmic research for our self-understanding.

The ensemble led by singer Anna Margolina blends the aesthetic of the Great American Songbook with original compositions from her new album (Song Of A Girl, June 2026 on XJAZZ! Music), which stylistically bridges the gap between jazz and folk. “Given the band’s sound, you could easily have drifted off into the era of jazz: into a New York club lounge, while people dance and sip cocktails. You were literally waiting for Frank Sinatra to mingle with the audience, a glass of whiskey in hand, and for the singer to lie down on the piano,” writes Jazz Radio Berlin. As the frontwoman of the renowned Swing Dance Orchestra, Anna toured Germany’s stages with 1930s hits; in her own programs, she dedicates herself to contemporary sounds, thereby also sharing a piece of her biography.

We warmly invite you to a special yoga session in the sculpture garden of Villa Schöningen – set within the exhibition “Zum Paradies.”

Surrounded by art and landscape, this 75-minute session brings together movement, breath, and awareness. Accompanied by live handpan music, a space unfolds between body and environment, between focus and release. The session invites you to experience the garden as a sensory environment and to approach the idea of paradise in your own way – through the interplay of sound, movement, and art.

Afterwards, you are welcome to further explore the exhibition “Zum Paradies.”

Please bring your own yoga mat.

Villa Schöningen invites you to a curatorial tour of the exhibition On Paradise on 5  July at 2 pm. Curator Pola van den Hövel will offer insights into the exhibition’s central questions and guide visitors through the parcours spanning the interior spaces and the garden.

At the core of the exhibition lies the question of where the idea of paradise has led us over the centuries—and how it continues to shape our understanding of nature, the body, and social order today. Drawing on historical visual traditions as well as contemporary artistic positions, paradise unfolds not as a lost place, but as a projection: a site of longing, a promise, and a space of control.

The tour invites visitors to explore these tensions together and to consider paradise not as a destination, but as a cultural construction of our present.

Painting outdoors in the garden of Villa Schöningen: In this two-day course, participants will develop their own compositions from initial sketches—from finding a subject to bringing the work to life. You’ll work with materials of your choice, guided by artistic and compositional support.

Materials:
Pencil, graphite, charcoal, pastels, colored pencils, or painting materials of your choice
Please bring: Sketchbook/sketchpad, drawing surface (at least A3 size), drawing pens, water container, painting rags, palette

Painting outdoors in the garden of Villa Schöningen: In this two-day course, participants will develop their own compositions from initial sketches—from finding a subject to bringing the work to life. You’ll work with materials of your choice, guided by artistic and compositional support.

Materials:
Pencil, graphite, charcoal, pastels, colored pencils, or painting materials of your choice
Please bring: Sketchbook/sketchpad, drawing surface (at least A3 size), drawing pens, water container, painting rags, palette

On July 18 Villa Schlieffen will  be open to interested visitors and can be viewed as part of a free guided tour. After the withdrawal of the Soviet army in 1994, the villa remained unused until 2023. Traces of this period are still visible in the rooms today and bear witness to its eventful history.

Complementing the architectural and historical exploration, Barbara Hammer’s video installation Sanctus from the Döpfner Collection is currently on display, adding an impressive contemporary perspective to the location.

Those interested can register for a free tour by emailing info@villa-schoeningen.de and discover the fascinating past of Villa Schlieffen.

City guide Kerstin Zarbock offers a comprehensive tour of the history of Villa Schöningen, which played a key role in German-German history. Located directly on the former inner-German border, the villa was the scene of significant events, particularly in the context of the spy exchanges at Glienicke Bridge.

The tour focuses on the significance of the house during the GDR era and sheds light on how this place became a symbol of the Cold War.

Painting outdoors in the garden of Villa Schöningen: In this two-day course, participants will develop their own compositions from initial sketches—from finding a subject to bringing the work to life. You’ll work with materials of your choice, guided by artistic and compositional support.

Materials:
Pencil, graphite, charcoal, pastels, colored pencils, or painting materials of your choice
Please bring: Sketchbook/sketchpad, drawing surface (at least A3 size), drawing pens, water container, painting rags, palette

Painting outdoors in the garden of Villa Schöningen: In this two-day course, participants will develop their own compositions from initial sketches—from finding a subject to bringing the work to life. You’ll work with materials of your choice, guided by artistic and compositional support.

Materials:
Pencil, graphite, charcoal, pastels, colored pencils, or painting materials of your choice
Please bring: Sketchbook/sketchpad, drawing surface (at least A3 size), drawing pens, water container, painting rags, palette

Villa Schlieffen is also open to curious visitors in August and can be explored as part of a free guided tour. After the Soviet army withdrew in 1994, the villa was abandoned until 2023. What remains are testimonies from times gone by. Currently, the impressive video installation “Sanctus” by Barbara Hammer from the Döpfner Collection is also on display.

Please register for a free tour at info@villa-schoeningen.de and learn about the fascinating past of this place.

City guide Kerstin Zarbock will take you on Sunday, April 26 on an impressive journey through the history of Villa Schöningen, a place of great significance in German history. Located directly on the former inner-German border, the villa was the setting for historic events, especially spy exchanges at the Glienicke Bridge.

This tour highlights the house’s role during the GDR era and its significance as a symbol of the Cold War. It is an informative and atmospheric approach to a place where world history becomes tangible.