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The Brandenburg Gate is perhaps the most famous landmark in Berlin. It is an 18th-century neoclassical monument that marks the site of a former city gate. It is one of the first stops for modern Instagramming visitors to Berlin. It is in the western part of the center of Berlin, just west of the Pariser Platz. It is only one block from the famous Reichstag building (where the German parliament is housed).
Throughout much of Berlin's history, Berlin was not a very important city (and was mostly a wooden town). It only became the capital of a newly formed Kingdom of Prussia in 1701, and it was after that that it started to grow dramatically and become one of the most important cities in Germany. Over most of that time, the Brandenburg Gate has stood proudly over Berlin.
The Tumultuous History Of The Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate was built between 1788 and 1791. The Brandenburg Gate was built by the Prussians under the orders of King Frederick William II after suppressing Dutch popular unrest. It sits on what was a city gate that marked the start of the road from Berlin going to the town of Brandenburg an der Havel.
- Architect: Carl Gotthard Langhans
- Built: Between 1788 and 1791
In 1793, a couple of years after it was built, the iconic Quadriga statue (a chariot pulled by four horses) was added to it (designed by Johann Gottfried Schadow).
- Height: 25 Meters
- Length: 65.5 Meters
- Depth: 11 Meters
It is a monumental entry to Unter den Linden - a boulevard that led to the old royal City Palace where the Prussian monarchs resided. It is the last surviving historic gate in the city and is supported by two rows of six Doric columns.
When Napoleon invaded Berlin and crushed the growing Kingdom of Prussia, the French took the Quadriga statue as a war trophy in 1806. They took it to Paris to mark their impressive victory. But in 1814, the French were defeated, and Napoleon was forced into exile. The Quadriga was then returned to Berlin and once again set atop the Brandenburg Gate.
The Cold War & A Symbol Of Division
The intention was for the chariot and horses running side by side to symbolize peace entering the city. The horses' reins in the statue are held by Victoria, the goddess of victory.
During the Cold War, the Brandenburg Gate was in the eastern Soviet part of the city in the exclusion zone near the Berlin Wall. During this time, it was inaccessible for most people, and it led to a lonely existence in the restricted area. People can also see the escape tunnels in Berlin, where people sought to flee to West Berlin.
It symbolized the division of Berlin during the Cold War when the city was split into East and West.
The severe damage caused by bombing during the war meant that the old sculpture had to be disposed of in 1956, and a new one was reconstructed.
Germany Reunification & A Symbol Of Peace & Reunification
As the Wall fell, some 100,000 people flocked to the Brandenburg Gate on 22 December 1989 to mark its official reopening. Unfortunately, the reunification celebrations damaged the Quaridga so much that it had to be restored two years later.
Today the Brandenburg Gate is a symbol of many things, including the tumultuous histories of Germany and Europe (immortalized in World War Two pictures of the fall of Berlin to the Soviets). It is also a symbol of a reunified Germany and the modern peace and unity of Europe.
Architecturally speaking, it is also one of the earliest and most appealing examples of neoclassical architecture in Germany (it was Berlin's first Greek revival building). It was inspired by an ancient monumental gateway (Propylaea) to the Acropolis of Athens.
Visiting The Brandenburg Gate Today
The Brandenburg Gate is in the center of the old city of Berlin. It faces the Pariser Platz (one of Berlin's most attractive squares). Many of the buildings one sees here had to be reconstructed after the devastation of World War Two. Reconstruction was only possible after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the reunification of Germany in the 1990s.
Top Attractions Near The Brandenburg Gate:
- The Reichstag
- Unter den Linden Boulevard
- The Memorial to The Murdered Jews Of Europe
- Victory Column (Siegessäule)
- Tiergarten Park
The Brandenburg Gate is an open monument that never closes - so anyone can visit whenever they want year-round. If possible, visit the Brandenburg Gate for the New Year's Eve party and enjoy a New Year's celebration the German way.
- Opening Hours: 24/7
- Admission: Free
The Brandenburg Gate has now presided over Berlin for around 250 years - the bulk of the time, Berlin was a city of note. Now it is selfie-central for tourists from around the world.