Fortunaportal

The Fortunaportal is a Baroque gate structure at the Old Market Square in Potsdam with a dome topped by a gilded Fortuna statue. The facade features ornate copper and gold decorations, with figures of Minerva and Hercules flanking the central arch.

The structure was designed in 1701 by Dutch architect Jean de Bodt to commemorate Frederick I's coronation as the first Prussian king. Following wartime destruction in 1960, it was reconstructed in 2002.

The portal takes its name from the gilded Fortuna statue atop the dome, which functions as a weather vane turning with the wind. This figure is a distinctive feature that visitors immediately notice when entering the square.

The gate functions as the main entrance to the City Palace complex, which houses the Brandenburg State Parliament today and is visible from the outside. The site sits directly on the historic square and is easily reached on foot.

The Fortuna statue is a working weather vane that rotates with the wind and gives the portal its name - a functional detail many visitors overlook. This rotating element transforms the structure into more than just a static decorative facade.