I've always associated Potsdam, Germany, with the Cold War, but outside of knowing some historical context, I was unprepared for how beautiful the palaces and gardens would be when I visited in the fall of 2007. Autumn was a spectacular season to stroll the grounds, as trees changing color were reflected in the waterways wending their way through Sansoucci Park, the heart of the original inscription. While I enjoyed visiting some of the palaces and grand structures in this World Heritage Site, to include Sanssouci, the New Palace, and the Chinese House, it was the gardens that I found most memorable. The terraces ouside the Orangery and Sanssouci palace provided a beautiful view over Potsdam, nestled in fall foliage. Leaves gently falling from the trees lining the grand walkways also added to the atmosphere. The gardens may have been out of season, but they were very well kept up. For those interested in Cold War history, in addition to nearby Schloss Cecilienhof, where the Potsdam Conference was held, Glienicke Bridge over the Havel River is also within the core zone. This bridge, which used to form the border between West Berlin and East Germany, was the site of prisoner exchanges during the Cold War, including the swap of Soviet spy Rudolf Abel for the American U2 pilot Gary Powers in 1962.

Logistics: Sanssouci Park is walkable, but private transportation may make it easier to travel between different components of this large series of gardens and palaces.