In 2013 the central debate and the award ceremony take place in the gorgeous Raphael Hall. As per tradition, the final gala dinner will be held in the New Chambers.

Raphael Hall in the Orangery in Sanssouci Park
The Orangery in Sanssouci Park is an impressive example of the buildings created by Frederick William IV, who was known as the "Romantic on the throne". The imposing building complex - including greenhouses and the central Orangery Palace, sculptures, fountains, arcades and terraces - brings a bit of the Mediterranean sun to Potsdam, while graphically documenting Frederick William IV's ardent admiration for Italy. Italian Renaissance villas served as its models. The architectural ensemble was created between 1851-64. During the extended construction period, Ludwig Persius, August Stüler and Ludwig Ferdinand Hesse were responsible for the plans, although the king's designs were unquestionably incorporated.
The impressive Raphael Hall, located in the central section of the three-winged complex, accommodates a notable collection of more than 50, 19th century copies of paintings by Raffael.
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New Chambers
The New Chambers in Sanssouci Park was originally built as an Orangery in 1745-1747 according to a design by Knobelsdorff. Between 1771 and 1775 the building was converted by Georg Christian Unger into Frederick the Great's guest palace. During that conversion the rich rococo furnishings were designed. In the “New Chambers” as the castle had been called from then on visitors can admire an arrangement of lavishly decorated parlours and apartments, created by the most famous artists during the time of Frederick the Great. A highlight in the succession of rooms is the jasper hall – a square room lined with gemstones. A ceiling fresco with an image of Venus, the ideal of beauty of the 18th century, tops off this room. In the adjacent Ovid Gallery, scenes of the roman poet Ovid’s Metamorphoses are depicted in precious golden reliefs – a favourite topic of Frederick the Great. Numerous paintings of views of the city of Potsdam from the 18th century complete the exquisite decoration.
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