This is the exterior of the central hall in the main palace of Sanssouci. Usually in the summer, all these windows would be open to allow Frederick and his guests to wander out to the gardens, as well as to let some cooler air in the hall. Although they had interior doors connecting them to one another and this central hall, the adjacent guest bedrooms usually also kept their windows open for the same reason. Guests moved from room to room by going outside to the forecourt and wandering back in. Usually only servants moved around through the interior sections of the palace.

Inside this hall, which was the focus of life at Sanssouci, the edges of the ceiling were decorated with sculptured figures representing Muses of the arts and sciences and all the intellectual pursuits which were Frederick's real passion. In the summer a large table would be placed in the center of this room and Frederick and his guests would sit around and discuss the ideas of the Enlightenment.

Sans Souci Main Hall Exterior