Brandenburg Gate, Potsdam

The Potsdam Gate (German: Brandenburger Tor) on the Luisenplatz in Potsdam, was built in 1770–71 by Carl von Gontard and Georg Christian Unger by order of Frederick II of Prussia, to celebrate his several victories in the Seven Years' War. An unusual feature of the Brandenburg Gate is that the two long sides are very different in style, and designed by two architects.

Carl von Gontard designed the inner or city-facing side, and his pupil, Georg Christian Unger, the side facing out to what was then the countryside. Both use the Corinthian order.

Gontard made the inner side as a rendered facade with only pilasters and trophies, while Unger designed the outer side more elaborately in the style of the Arch of Constantine with projecting Corinthian pairs of columns and more prominent decorative sculpture. The two side entrances for pedestrians were not added until 1843, under Frederick William IV, in order to cope with the increase in pedestrian traffic.

Since the city wall was demolished around 1900 the Brandenburg Gate has been a free-standing structure. It stands at the western end of Brandenburger Straße, which runs in a straight line up to the Peter and Paul Church, Potsdam.