Huguenot History: Cultural Heritage and New Beginnings in Potsdam

Huguenot History: Cultural Heritage and New Beginnings in Potsdam

On January 19, 2026, the Cultural City Association's New Year's reception took place in the picturesque French Church in Potsdam. This special event was opened by Martin Peske, a representative of the French Reformed Community, and Fides Mahrla, chairwoman of the Cultural City Association. They looked back on the impressive history of the Huguenots, who found a new home in Brandenburg from 1685 onwards.

The Huguenots, French Protestants, fled due to cruel persecution of their faith that accompanied King Louis XIV's revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. This meant the end of their religious freedom and led to the flight of around 40,000 people. Brandenburg-Prussia took in around 20,000 of these refugees, who played a crucial role in rebuilding the decimated population after the Thirty Years' War. Migrationshistorie.de emphasizes that Elector Friedrich Wilhelm invited the Huguenots with the Edict of Potsdam and promised them numerous privileges.

Cultural and economic boom

The arrival of these talented immigrants brought a breath of fresh air to the region. Around 4,500 of them settled in Berlin and made up around a quarter of the city's population around 1700. Thanks to their diverse skills as craftsmen, gardeners, textile experts and scientists, the Huguenots contributed significantly to the region's economic revival. Meetingpoint Potsdam mentions that they laid the foundation for flourishing silk production in Berlin and introduced traditional professions such as goldsmiths and silversmiths.

A particularly historic name that is often mentioned in this context is David Bouché. When he arrived around 1695, he laid the foundation for a gardening dynasty. Bouché acquired property near the Jannowitz Bridge and built the Bouché Garden, which existed until the fifth generation. His story shows how successful the settlement policy of the time was.

Traces of the Huguenots today

The cultural influences of the Huguenots are still visible today. Street names like French Street remind us of their presence in Berlin. The French Friedrichstadtkirche on Gendarmenmarkt, which was built in 1705, is another monument to its history. The French language and traditions are also part of Berlin's cultural heritage, as evidenced by the introduction of coffee and the first cafés.

In addition to promoting crafts and agriculture, the Huguenots also took their first steps into the world of education. Schools for the French language and natural sciences were founded, and the French Gymnasium became the elite school in the region. But the integration of the Huguenots was not always problem-free. Many of the refugees clung to their cultural identity, which was sometimes met with skepticism from the local population.

The cultural city association's celebrations culminated in a donation for the replanting of the former Huguenot garden of the French Reformed community at Gutenbergstrasse 77. The evening was musically accompanied by the community choir and a magnificent organ performance on the Johann Wilhelm Grüneberg organ.

Overall, the event showed how important the Huguenots were for the development of Brandenburg and how their traces continue to have an impact today. It is this connection between past and present that still contributes to exchange and cultural enrichment today. Wikipedia adds that the Huguenots not only brought with them technical knowledge, but also made a significant contribution to the cultural and scientific development in Prussia.