Great Military Orphanage (Potsdam)

The first military orphanage was built in Potsdam between 1722 and 1724.
It was founded as a home for the care and training of the children of fallen, deceased or particularly poor soldiers. Initially only for boys, the orphanage accepted girls in 1725, with 600 children in all.
Children and adolescents, 6 to 16 years of age were supposed to receive an education according to Christian values, first by going to school and then being trained in a profession.
Like many buildings downtown, the orphanage was damaged in World War II. It was partly restored after the war and kept serving as an orphanage, then later as an office building and boarding school for the Teachers' College. In 1992, the foundation was revived and the complete restoration of the building was finished in 2004.
The temple on top of the main building, called Monopteros reaches a height of 85 feet. It is topped by a sculpture called Caritas, Latin for Charity.