Studio Babelsberg

Studio Babelsberg in Potsdam-Babelsberg is the world's oldest large-scale film studio, founded in 1912 when silent cinema was still finding its feet. The lot quickly became a cradle of cinema history: Fritz Lang's dystopian vision »Metropolis« (1927) and Josef von Sternberg's »The Blue Angel« (1930) were both shot here, before the studio was absorbed into the Nazi film apparatus and later repurposed as the GDR's DEFA production center after 1945. Post-reunification, Babelsberg staged an international comeback, hosting Hollywood productions including »Saving Private Ryan«, »Inglourious Basterds«, and »The Grand Budapest Hotel«. Guided tours offer access to original sets, behind-the-scenes looks at practical effects, and a walk through nine decades of European filmmaking history.