The capital and largest city in the state of Brandenburg, Potsdam is best known for the 17 palaces and their surrounding parks which make up part of Germany's largest UNESCO World Heritage Site. The most famous of these is Sanssouci Palace, the former summer residence of Frederick the Great, while those with an interest in modern European history will be drawn towards Cecilienhof Palace, location of the 1945 Potsdam Conference. The Dutch Quarter, just a short drive from the parks, is one of the city's most visited districts and the three surviving gates from the original city walls offer a glimpse into the region's grand Prussian past. A fifteen mile drive north-east will take you to the centre of Berlin. The German capital's renowned art and nightlife scenes create a vibrant atmosphere that is complimented by a unique architectural heritage shaped by the city's turbulent history and position at the heart of German culture.