Whispers of old Potsdam echo within these stones. These are the Reste der Potsdamer Stadtmauer. Once, this city was enclosed. It was not for defense against invaders. It was a barrier against its own.
Imagine soldiers stationed here. Their task was grim. They had to prevent fellow soldiers from deserting. The Stadtmauer also served as a customs wall. It stopped the smuggling of goods.
In 1718, Friedrich Wilhelm I ordered a wall. It was built along the Havel River. A palisade fence stood there too. Swamps and a moat protected other areas. This later became the Stadtkanal. As Potsdam expanded, a new wall became essential. This was the “Accise- und Desertations-Communication.”
The Stadtmauer’s construction highlights Potsdam’s growth. It began around 1722. The first Stadtmauer started at Wall am Kiez. It ran along Breite Straße and Lindenstraße. It turned east at Charlottenstraße’s north side. Before the French Church, it shifted northeast. It followed Hebbelstraße. At the Klinikum Ernst von Bergmann, it went southeast. This part of Türkstraße is now gone. The street was called “Communication.” It ended at Berliner Straße. The Mauer crossed Berliner Straße near Berliner Tor. It continued through Türkstraße. At Große Fischerstraße, the wall turned south. It followed the road to the Havel River.
A second Stadtmauer was built around 1733. It also began at Kiez. It crossed Breite Straße as Neustädter Tor. It ran down the center of Schopenhauerstraße. At Hegelallee, it turned east. It went into Mauerstraße. Green strips mark its path. The Mauer crossed Kurfürstenstraße to Hebbelstraße. Hebbelstraße was also named “Communication.” It was later renamed “Kommunikationen.” The rest of the wall’s path matched the old one.
The Reste der Potsdamer Stadtmauer before you are a testament to changing times. As Potsdam grew, the wall became an obstacle. Openings appeared near Hermann-Elflein-Straße. These allowed access to Jägervorstadt. The demolition began in the late 19th century.
These remnants stand protected. The largest section is on Große Fischerstraße. It stretches between the former Heilig-Geist-Kirche and Am Kanal street. A smaller part is at Schopenhauerstraße and Charlottenstraße. It is right by the “Alter Stadtwächter” restaurant.
These bricks whisper stories. They speak of soldiers, taxes, and growth. They tell of a city defined by its boundaries. Today, the Reste der Potsdamer Stadtmauer remind us. They remind us that even walls fade. The stones endure, preserving memories. The Reste der Potsdamer Stadtmauer are more than just bricks. They are silent witnesses to Potsdam’s past.