Before the Sanssouci residence was built, first, terraced gardens were created on the southern slopes of the Bornstedt hill, founded by Frederick II the Great in 1744.
There used to be impressive oak trees on this hill, which were cut down during the reign of Frederick William I, and the wood obtained from them was used to strengthen the marshy areas intended for the expansion of Potsdam. This area, called Wüsten Berg, was developed in the French style.
The slope was divided into six wide terraces, in front of which there was a lawn and a hedge of fruit trees. The walls reinforcing the terraces were covered with vines imported from Italy, Portugal, and France. There were 120 (currently 132) stairs leading to the top of the hill, dividing the slope into two parts.
At the foot of the terraces, a baroque decorative garden with a fountain was established. Around the fountain, there are sculptures of Roman gods and allegorical representations of the four elements: water, air, fire, and earth (representations of air and water were gifts from the King of France, Louis XV).
There was also the so-called kitchen garden that referred to the elaborate garden at the palace of King Louis XIV in Marly-le-Roi.
