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 18th 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.
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