Neustädter Tor, Historic gate in Nördliche Innenstadt, Potsdam, Germany
The Neustädter Tor was a passage flanked by two tall sandstone obelisks that stood on either side of the street. Each obelisk was decorated with reliefs resembling Egyptian inscriptions and carried a stone eagle with open wings at its top.
The first gate was built in 1722 as part of the city fortification that controlled trade and entry. Architect Knobelsdorff moved it further west in 1753 and created the obelisks to form a sight line from the palace to the park.
The name recalls the Neustadt district, which grew when Prussian settlers expanded the city westward in the early eighteenth century. The surviving obelisk now stands in a quiet area where passersby can observe its carved decorations up close.
The preserved obelisk stands near the intersection of Breite Straße and Lindenstraße and is easily visible from the street. A walk through the surrounding area reveals more traces of the old city layout, including wide avenues and historic building fronts.
During World War II, one of the obelisks was completely destroyed, but a stone eagle survived the 1945 air raid. This damaged piece was placed on display at the Potsdam Museum in 2012 after decades in storage.
Location: Potsdam
Inception: 1753
Architects: Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff
Made from material: sandstone
GPS coordinates: 52.39605,13.05003
Latest update: December 5, 2025 08:00
This collection documents major buildings that have disappeared throughout history. It includes religious structures such as the 15th-century Porcelain Tower of Nanjing, whose glazed bricks gleamed in sunlight, as well as destroyed palaces, theaters, and public buildings from various periods and continents. Among the lost structures are the Colossus of Rhodes, the Temple in Jerusalem, the Great Buddhas of Bamiyan, the Berlin Wall, and the World Trade Center. The reasons for the disappearance of these structures range from warfare to natural disasters to deliberate demolition for urban redevelopment. The Palais du Trocadéro in Paris was demolished in 1937 to make way for the current Palais de Chaillot. The Crystal Palace in London burned down in 1936. The Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapsed in 1940, just months after opening. This compilation provides insight into lost architectural achievements and the historical circumstances of their disappearance.
Brandenburg Gate
408 m
Dampfmaschinenhaus
345 m
Filmmuseum Potsdam
534 m
Großes Militärwaisenhaus
110 m
Gedenkstätte Lindenstraße 54/55
522 m
Nikolaisaal
430 m
Potsdamer Glockenspiel
271 m
Langer Stall
291 m
Café Seerose
256 m
Brockessches Haus
394 m
Hiller-Brandtsche Häuser
140 m
Villa Hoffbauer
328 m
Kutschstall (Potsdam)
470 m
Karl-Liebknecht-Forum
515 m
Kabinetthaus
536 m
Musical clock
399 m
Alte Wache
325 m
Baptistenkirche
242 m
Predigerwitwenhaus
93 m
Spielbank Potsdam
455 m
Hotel Brandenburger Tor Potsdam
384 m
Haus der Brandenburgisch-Preussischen Geschichte
449 m
Naturkundemuseum Potsdam
56 m
Henning-von-Tresckow-Strasse 13
480 m
Charlottenstraße 99
531 m
Steam engine house (mosque)
379 m
Königin-Luise-Apotheke
546 m
Charlottenstraße 121
322 mReviews
Visited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
Discover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes