Experience the Zeppelin history for yourself at the airship port in Potsdam
The Kongresshotel Potsdam by the Templiner See is exceptional not just for its situation and capacities, but also in terms of its location. Potsdam was a significant location in the history of aviation. In the early 20th century, it witnessed an important chapter in German history. In 1910, the inventor of airships, Count Zeppelin, received a 25-hectare plot of land beside the Templiner See from the City of Potsdam to build an airship port there. On September 9, 1911, the first airship landed there from Lake Constance. In 1912, the facility included the largest airship hangar in Germany.
Famous airships such as the “Nordstern”, “Graf Zeppelin” and “Viktoria Luise” were built, maintained and based there. During World War I, 16 military airships were built at the airship port. However, the long double-hangar was demolished following the Treaty of Versailles. Production of the flying giants came to an end in 1917 and from 1920, only the “Shedhalle” hangar survived. In 1996, it was converted into a conference centre. Today, its glass pent roof makes it ideal as a congress hall for major events.
