The book is about the fascinating history of Villa Jacobs on Jungfernsee near Potsdam: built in 1835 according to plans by Ludwig Persius for Ludwig Jacobs, it is surrounded by an 8-hectare landscaped park designed by Peter Josef Lenné. Composed as an eye-catcher from Klein-Glienicke Palace, this ensemble is now a place for contemporary art – and a work of art in itself.

With numerous historical and contemporary pictures as well as explanatory texts, Marianne and Stefan Ludes show Villa Jacobs as a place that exemplifies 300 years of German history. The fact that almost every major development in Germany has left its mark on this place is just as remarkable as the reconstruction of the villa and park by Marianne and Stefan Ludes, which with its numerous views of the Havel landscape is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.