Luisenplatz (Louise Square), Potsdam

Louise Square (Luisenplatz) in Potsdam is a historic square located at the western end of the Brandenburger Street pedestrian zone, just outside the original city boundary established in 1733. Initially built around the same time as the city wall during Potsdam's second expansion, Louise Square served as a wood collection point. It gained prominence on December 21, 1793, when 17-year-old Princess Luise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who later became the renowned Queen Luise, was received here in the residence of the Prussian kings and German emperors.

The square underwent a significant transformation in 1854 when Peter Joseph Lenné, a renowned garden artist and the general garden director of the Royal Prussian Gardens, redesigned it with a central fountain, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. In 1880, a single-track horse-drawn tram began operating through the Brandenburg Gate and the southern part of Louise Square, later electrified in 1907.

Throughout the 20th century, Louise Square underwent several name changes: it became "Brandenburger Square" in 1945 and "Place of Nations" in 1951. During the GDR era, it hosted folk festivals and Christmas markets. After German reunification, the square was restored to its original name, Luisenplatz, in 1991. In preparation for the Federal Garden Show in 2001, Louise Square was extensively redesigned. A fountain was reintroduced at the center of the square, echoing Lenné's 1854 design.

Today, Louise Square is a vibrant spot with various restaurants and cafés, and hosts city events, including the Luisenfest, markets, and part of the Potsdam Christmas Market, which features an ice rink and fairytale forest for children. In November 2020, a monument by Potsdam artist Mikos Meininger was installed to commemorate the largest demonstration during the peaceful revolution in the GDR on November 4, 1989. This artwork, made of cast iron steel plates shaped as the date "4.11.1989," includes 106 footprints of participants and slogans from the protest banners, serving as a lasting tribute to this pivotal moment in history.