Brandenburg Gate, Potsdam (must see)

Brandenburg Gate was originally built in 1733 as a simple, functional gate. The gate stood at an important crossroad as the country road leading to Brandenburg began at the gate. The gate also connected to the roads leading to Potsdam’s royal palaces and gardens.

Frederick William I, known as Frederick the Great, intended to expand the city. He wanted to celebrate Prussia’s greatness with a majestic gate. Carl von Gontard and Georg Christian Unger designed the new gate to emulate a Roman triumphal arch.

The gate’s field side features classic architecture with Corinthian double columns. The field side also has war trophy depictions, coats of arms, and ornamentation. The gate’s city side has trophies and Corinthian pilaster strips.

Pedestrian entrances were added in 1843. The gate was originally connected to the city walls but became free-standing around 1900.