The Brandenburg Gate (in German Brandenburger Tor) is unanimously considered one of the main symbols, the “calling card” of Berlin. There are many reasons for this: their location, their rich history, and impressive appearance. The 20-meter-high structure of 12 columns arranged in 6 rows, topped with a 6-meter sculpture, is loved by both tourists and local residents.
The building is made in the spirit of classicism and, accordingly, quotes ancient buildings. Subsequently, the gate set the architectural style of the entire capital of Germany. They have been carefully restored for centuries, no matter what happens to them. Thanks to this, to this day we can see them not worn out or modernized.
Brandenburg Gate in panorama - Google Maps
The gate rises in the very center of the city, which provides you with the opportunity to spend your leisure time as varied as possible with a minimum investment of time. Near the gate there are several museums and historical sites, such as the Unter den Linden street and the legendary Reichstag.
Story
What seems surprising is that the gate survived wars, devastation, and damage, but ultimately retained its original appearance today thanks to high-quality restoration. The centuries-old history of the landmark in the 20th century was divided into two eras: before and after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Before the wall falls
During the Renaissance, the gates were only part of the city's fortress and served an exclusively practical function. But later, at the end of the 18th century, through the efforts of Karl Gottgard Langhans, they were turned into the monumental Arc de Triomphe, and marked the beginning of the classicist tradition in Prussian architecture.
The gate was decorated with a sculpture depicting the goddess of victory Victoria on a chariot drawn by 4 horses. This work by sculptor Johann Gottfried Schadow was called “Quadriga of Victory.” It was this element of architecture that subsequently took the greatest damage.
Napoleon was the first to disturb the quadriga. Having conquered Berlin, he ordered the chariot to be transported from the gates to Paris. After the victory over Napoleon, she was returned to Berlin and decorated with the Iron Cross.
Later, soldiers celebrated their victory at the gate: the victors in the Franco-Prussian War, the counter-revolutionaries. Here the National Socialists rejoiced after winning the elections in 1933. Afterwards, during the Second World War, the so carefully preserved quadriga was completely destroyed and restored only more than 10 years later: in 1958. From 1945 to 1957, the USSR flag flew in its place.
On August 13, 1961, at the time of the construction of the Berlin Wall, the gate and quadriga were completely restored. Now they were crowned with the GDR flag and the constructed fence blocked the view of the historically important site to both parts of the country.
After the wall fell
In 1989, the need for the Berlin Wall disappeared, and it was gradually dismantled, again uniting the western and eastern parts of the German capital with a gate. At first, the part was left as a souvenir, but vandals constantly attacked it: they tried to destroy it, covered it with graffiti, etc.
Now there is no trace left of the wall at the gate. Since 1990, the Brandenburg Gate has become a symbol of the unity of the German people and received a second name - the Gate of Peace. They have become part of the modern Parisian Square. City festivals of various sizes are constantly held here.
To the side you will find the “Hall of Silence” - it is equipped primarily for residents of modern Germany. Here they can silently reflect and honor the memory of their ancestors, who, generation after generation, experienced a series of tragic events. Some of them subsequently died, others kept the memory of the past, and now everyone can pay tribute to them in the hall at the gate.
Visiting an attraction
To begin with, in the square near the gate you will find entertainment, temporary (related to holidays) and permanent. Basically, you will be offered a ride: on a Segway, on various fancy bicycles or - what is especially atmospheric - on a horse-drawn chariot.
You can dine nearby in restaurants serving Indian, Italian, Asian and German cuisine. The legendary Starbucks coffee shop is also within walking distance.
There is a pharmacy right at the Brandenburger Tor stop for emergencies. And if you like Parisian Square and want to start every day in Berlin with a look at the Brandenburg Gate, you can stay in one of two hotels also located nearby.
It is also worth noting the proximity of the gate to the large green Tiergarten park, where anyone can find their favorite corner and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the world. It was once the hunting forest of kings, but is now accessible to everyone and equipped accordingly.
How to get to the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
The Brandenburg Gate is located in the central part of the city, on Pariser Platz, at Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin.
By public transport
The Brandenburger Tor stop in Berlin is served by buses No. 100, S1 and TXL and commuter trains S1, S2, S25 and S26. Also not far from the gate there is a bus stop Behrenstr./Wilhelmstr. — buses No. 200 and N2 go to it.
Route from Tegel Airport to Brandenburg Gate in Berlin - Google Maps
By car
It will be even easier to get there by car. This is the busiest part of Berlin, close to the major thoroughfares Federal Road 2 and Ebertstraße. You can call a taxi: international services Uber and Kiwitaxi operate.
Video about the Brandenburg Gate
On July 29, 1836, the Arc de Triomphe was inaugurated in Paris on Place des Stars (now Place Charles de Gaulle), which today has become one of the symbols of the French capital. It took 30 years to build. Napoleon ordered the construction of the arch immediately after the Battle of Austerlitz. True, the emperor himself never saw the result; construction was completed during the reign of Louis Philippe. The arch reaches a height of 50 meters and is decorated with images of military campaigns of the French army.
Triumphal arches as a memorial to victory in battles can be found all over the world. We have collected 7 more of the most impressive ones.
Triumphal Arch in Moscow
In 1826, it was decided to replace the arch with a stone one.
The history of the Moscow arch began in the 19th century. At first it was wooden - it was erected in honor of the return of Russian troops with victory over Napoleonic army. In 1826, it was decided to replace the arch with a stone one. Construction took 20 long years, and after that it was completely dismantled as a relic of the past. However, after another 30 years, the capital authorities decided to recreate the arch and install it on Kutuzovsky Prospekt. The work was completed in 1968. The monument consists of an arch and 12 columns. Between pairs of columns, large figures are placed on pedestals, the equipment of which repeats the equipment of ancient Russian warriors. Above these figures are images of battle scenes, as well as the Russian Emperor Alexander I and heroes of ancient myths. Above the arch there is a sculptural group - a chariot harnessed to six horses, driven by the goddess of victory Nike.
India Gate Arch in New Delhi
The Indian arch is very reminiscent of its “sister” from Paris - not only in scale, but also in its significance for the city. The memorial was erected in 1931 to honor the soldiers who fought during the First World War - the names of each fallen are carved into the arch. The 48-meter arch is located on the main street of New Delhi, the so-called Way of the Kings.
Arc de Triomphe in Barcelona
The top of the arch is decorated with the coat of arms of Spain.
The arch in Barcelona was erected in 1988 specifically for the World Exhibition. The monument is built of red brick and is located at the junction of Pasé de Lluis Companus and Pasais de San Juan boulevards. The top of the arch is decorated with the coat of arms of Spain, and the coats of arms of the country's provinces are placed on the arcs of the facades. At the top of the arch there are several sculptural compositions.
Arch Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
The famous Berlin Arch was erected in 1791. It was heavily damaged during World War II, and its restoration in 1957 became a symbol of the division and subsequent reunification of Germany. The gate is the boundary of the old city center. During the Cold War, it was here that the construction of the Berlin Wall began, and here in 1989 the first East Germans crossed the border to get into West Germany. The top of the arch is decorated with a sculptural group: four horses, controlled by the goddess of victory Victoria.
Marble Arc de Triomphe in London
Initially, the monument was located in front of Buckingham Palace.
This arch is located near the Speaker's Corner in Hyde Parker. It was created in 1828 by the architect John Nash, who took the Arc de Triomphe of Constantine in Rome as a basis. Initially, the monument was located in front of Buckingham Palace and served as its main entrance. The building was moved in 1851. The arch is decorated with Corinthian columns and has three arched passages: one large central arch and two smaller ones on either side of the central arch. At the top is a bas-relief representing England, Scotland and Ireland.
Arch of Augustus in Rimini
The arch in Rimini is one of the oldest in the world. It was erected in honor of Emperor Octavian Augustus and initially served as the main gate to the city - its walls were located on either side of it. The height of the arch is 9.92 m, width - 8.45 m, thickness - 4.10 m. Its four medallions depict four deities: Jupiter, Neptune, Apollo, son of Jupiter, Minerva, and on both sides there are the heads of two bulls, symbolizing Rimini as a colony of Rome. Previously, at the top of the arch there were four horses (traditional for Roman architecture), which were controlled by Emperor Augustus.
Triumphal Arch in Bucharest
The arch is one of the main symbols of the capital of Romania.
The arch is one of the main symbols of the capital of Romania. It is located near the largest park on one of the most important highways in the capital, which bears the name of the Russian general and diplomat, Count Pavel Kiselev. The arch was installed in honor of the defenders of Romanian independence in 1922. Like the Moscow one, this one was initially built of wood, and only in 1936 was it replaced with an arch made of reinforced concrete and granite. Its height is 27 m. On the arch are carved the texts of the great Romanian historian Nicolae Iorga and a list of names of settlements in which hostilities took place.
Category: Berlin
The Brandenburg Gate is the most famous architectural and historical monument of Berlin and all of Germany. Immediately after World War II, they became a symbol of the division of the country and its people, and after 1989 - a symbol of the reunification of Germany into a single state.
The Brandenburg Gate is located on Paris Square (Pariserplatz). Their project was developed by the famous German architect of the 18th century Karl Gottgard Langhans, considered the founder of such a movement in architecture as Berlin classicism. Construction of the gate, which was originally called the Gate of Peace, started back in 1789 and lasted just over two years. Despite its recognition, the main German attraction cannot be called completely unique. Thus, the majestic columns are made in the Doric style and are actually identical to the front passages (propylaea) of the legendary ancient Greek Acropolis in Athens.
Before opening, the Gates of Peace were painted white - bright, dazzling. Historians were then at a loss for a long time as to what prompted Lannhans to find just such a color scheme. The dominant version has become that the architect listened to the advice of Johann Godfried Schadow, a German sculptor and artist who was involved in decorating his brainchild. Why did Shadov’s person come up at all? It turns out that documents have been preserved that dispel any doubts regarding the authorship of the design of the goddess of victory Victoria, “seated” on the Brandenburg Gate on a quadriga chariot drawn by four horses. The six-meter sculptural ensemble, facing the eastern part of the German capital, is also the work of Shadov, also known as an outstanding art theorist.
The sculptural Victoria crowning the gate was admired not only by the townspeople and guests of Berlin. The composition evoked genuine delight in Napoleon Bonaparte. When the army of the French emperor entered Berlin, the conqueror ordered... to remove the goddess from her “home” and transport her to France. The logic that Napoleon was guided by was simple: such a magnificent symbol of victory could not possibly be in a defeated city. But history, as we know, had its own way. Bonaparte's seemingly indestructible army was ultimately defeated, and the emperor himself was exiled to the remote island of St. Helena, where he spent the last days of his life. After the expulsion of the invader, Victoria and her quadriga were returned to the German capital and installed back on the Brandenburg Gate. However, after the war, the sculptural ensemble underwent some changes. The sculptor Friedrich Schinkel added the Iron Cross to it, symbolizing the order, which the state awarded only to the most courageous and loyal soldiers.
In 1871, a grand march of victorious soldiers in the Franco-Prussian War took place in Berlin. It was this parade, which passed through the Brandenburg Gate, that marked the proclamation of the German Empire, which, by the way, existed until 1918. At the beginning of the 20th century, a new turn in the history of the German state - its transformation into a republic - was also marked by the triumphant passage of soldiers through this majestic symbol of Germany. Fifteen years later, a new event, no less symbolic than the two described above: the National Socialists who came to power in 1933 covered the Brandenburg Gate with huge banners with Nazi symbols. The majestic architectural monument became a silent witness to the ominous, even somewhat mystical, procession of the fascists. Berliners did not yet know what a tragedy not only for the people and the country, but also for the main attractions - the Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate - Hitler's dreams of world domination would turn into.
In 1945, the Brandenburg Gate suffered enormous damage. Its Doric-style columns were riddled with bullets and shell fragments. Under the centuries-old symbol of Germany lay the corpses of soldiers of the seemingly invincible Third Reich. It seems that nothing remains of the gate’s former grandeur. One of the Soviet shells hit directly the sculpture of the goddess Victoria, destroying it along with the quadriga and the Iron Cross. For twelve whole years (1945-1957), the red flag of the Soviet Union proudly fluttered at the site of the victory symbol. It was then replaced by the flag of the German Democratic Republic.
In 1958, the government of the GDR, having asked permission from the “big brother” - the USSR, decided to restore Victoria's quadriga. Three years later, the Brandenburg Gate, which has always symbolized the unity of Germany, for the first time in history began to symbolize the split of the country. The GDR, in its desire to isolate itself from the Federal Republic of Germany, went so far as to build the infamous Berlin Wall, separating the Brandenburg Gate from West Berlin. But, even formally remaining in the “eastern zone,” they turned out to be inaccessible to residents of the GDR, on whose side an additional wall was built that completely isolated them.
Currently, the Brandenburg Gate has completely returned to its former grandeur and glory. Just like two hundred years ago, they again symbolize the unity of Germany and fit perfectly into the holistic architectural ensemble of Pariserplatz.
Charité (French Charité - “love of neighbor, mercy”) is the oldest hospital in Berlin, with more than 3,000 beds it is the largest university hospital in Europe. The reason for the creation of the Charité was an order from the cabinet of the Prussian King Frederick...
The Office of the Federal Chancellor of Germany is a building in Berlin and the seat of the German federal government of the same name. As part of the relocation of the German government from Bonn to Berlin, the Department took over a new building created according to architectural designs...
The monumental equestrian statue of Frederick the Great is dedicated to King Frederick II of Prussia and is known among Berliners as "Old Fritz." The statue is located in the historical center of Berlin on the middle strip of the Unter den Linden boulevard. G...
The monument to the German ophthalmologist and professor of ophthalmology at the Charité Albrecht von Graefe is located on the corner of Schumannstrasse and Luisenstrasse and has a complex design. The initiative to create the monument came in 1872, 2 years later...
The Moltke Bridge is a red sandstone-clad road and pedestrian bridge with load-bearing steel structures on stone piers, built across the Spree River in the Mitte district of Berlin. The bridge, decorated with sculptures, was named after Helmut...
The Brandenburg Gate is the main attraction and historical symbol of Germany, which deserves everyone's attention. Most recently, this monument celebrated a significant date - 220 years since its official opening. Many times, at the foot of the gate, the most important historical events unfolded and blood was shed. For several decades they reminded of the split of the country into two parts, and today they have become a symbol of the unity of the nation.
Construction attractions
In 1789, under the leadership of the architect Karl Gottgard Lannhans, the Gate of Peace was laid. Modern critics believe that it was this master who founded Berlin classicism. The architect took the works of ancient builders as the basis for his creation. Many see in the majestic columns of the gate Doric features of the columns of the Athenian Acropolis.
To give the gates a special elegance, they were ordered to be completely covered with snow-white paint just before opening. This idea was suggested to Lannhans by his friend and sculptor Johann Schadow. He also worked on creating a four-horse carriage with Victoria (the Roman goddess of victory). The statue crowns the arch and reaches a height of 6 meters. The goddess's appearance faces the eastern side of Berlin. The fate of the sculpture is almost more tragic than the arch itself.
Description of the Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate features a triumphal arch, an almost complete copy of the Propylaea on the Parthenon. The total height of the structure is 26 m. It is installed on six supports 11 m wide. Each of the supports consists of paired Doric columns. The total length of the gate is 65 m. The monument was built from stone blocks, which were later lined with sandstone.
A six-meter sculpture is installed on the carved ceiling. It depicts a carriage drawn by four horses under the control of the goddess Victoria. In the year of the presentation, Victoria clutched an olive branch in her hand, symbolizing peace. After the quadriga returned from France, the branch was replaced with a cross.
There are 5 passages between the pillars of the Brandenburg Gate. The middle corridor is the widest. It was intended for ceremonial processions of rulers and crowned guests. The side passages were intended for the passage and passage of ordinary citizens. In each opening on the sides there were niches with statues of gods. The ceilings are decorated with engravings and reliefs with allegorical meaning.
To the north of the monument you can see a modest building that housed a guard. Today it houses a “hall of silence”, where every visitor can reflect on the difficult fate of those who fell at the Brandenburg Gate.
The complex fate of the monument
Since its opening, the Brandenburg Gate has become the most majestic monument in Germany. The Germans were very proud of it, and tourists admired its beauty. When Napoleon Bonaparte found himself with troops in the capital of Germany during the First World War, he ordered the quadriga to be immediately removed and sent to Paris. The Victory Statue, in his opinion, could not remain in Germany. Thus began the difficult fate of this beautiful landmark.
When Napoleon's army was defeated, and he himself was sent to while away the last days of his life on a tiny island, the quadriga took its rightful place. Since the sculpture received some damage, it was restored and slightly modified. Now a cross appeared in the hands of the Victorious - an honorary insignia for the bravest of German soldiers.
At the beginning of 1871, a column of victorious soldiers of the Franco-Prussian battle marched through the Brandenburg Gate. This column became a symbol of the formation of the German Empire. Decades later, the soldiers who helped destroy the empire and proclaimed the German Republic passed through here.
In 1933, the era of fascism began. The gate columns are tightly hung with German flags with swastikas. Now the National Socialists marched beneath them. After Adolf Hitler came to power and the outbreak of World War II, many historical and cultural monuments in Germany were damaged or completely razed to the ground.
In 1945, the square at the Brandenburg Gate became the scene of the final battles between Nazi and Soviet troops. Exhausted by a long war and torn by hatred, the soldiers sought to destroy the architecture of the city from which the hated tyrant gave orders.
The condition of the Brandenburg Columns by mid-1945 was very deplorable. The supports and arches were completely covered with holes from bullets and larger shells. Hundreds of mutilated bodies covered all available space. One of the last shells fired in Berlin was aimed at the winner's quadriga and hit the target. Not a trace remains of the famous sculpture. Instead, the scarlet banner of the Soviets fluttered over the gates for 12 years.
In 1957, the flag of the GDR was hoisted in place of the Soviet banner, and a year later the government of the GDR, with the consent of the USSR, began to restore the quadriga. For a long time, the landmark became inaccessible to German residents on both sides of the wall. It was impossible to get to it from the western side of the country because of the Berlin Wall, and an equally high fence grew from the East so that the Germans could not approach the gate. Only in 1989, when the Berlin Wall was completely destroyed, were the Germans able to pass under the majestic arches of the gate.
Since the country's unification, the Brandenburg Gate has become the main symbol of unity, uniting divided families of one nation. The very fact of unhindered passage under the gate evoked a feeling of euphoria among people. However, the lavish festivities in 1989 were somewhat overshadowed: the famous quadriga was damaged during the celebrations and was again removed for repairs. About a year and a half later, the statue of Victoria was installed in its usual place so that the landmark could appear before the audience in all its splendor.
Brandenburg Gate today
The Brandenburg Gate is the most beloved and interesting landmark, which managed to survive difficult events and survive. You can admire their grandeur at the border of the two central districts of the capital (Mitte and Tiergarten). The structure separates the city park and Unter den Linden street.
You should definitely come to the Brandenburg Gate after sunset. Modern and very thoughtful illumination makes them shine with new colors. The columns and quadriga seem to rush towards the sky and move slowly in the twilight.
Paris Square is very popular with street performers, travelers and youth groups, so it is impossible to be alone near the gate. The most deserted hours are the early morning hours.
The square at the Brandenburg Gate serves as an arena for performances, concerts and ceremonies in honor of fallen soldiers. Any resident of Berlin will remember with admiration the concert of the Scorpions group and the Rostropovich Orchestra on the anniversary of the fall of the unification of Berlin.
How to get there
The Brandenburg Gate is located a little west of the city center, on Parisian Square. To get to them, you should use the metro (line U55), as well as commuter trains. You need to get off at the Brandenburger Tor stop.
Hello, friends. The topic of today's story and the object of research will be the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. They are a symbol of Germany and the most recognizable landmark of Berlin. According to surveys of companies responsible for the development of tourism in Germany and constantly conducting surveys among tourists from different countries and different ages, the Brandenburg Gate invariably takes 1st place in the list of the most visited sites in Berlin and 5th among all attractions in Germany.
Germany has a huge number of beautiful places, cities, amusement parks, and biosphere reserves. If you fantasize and set yourself a slightly strange task - to create a route so as not to stumble upon a single attraction, then I doubt that you will succeed.
Why are the gates, even if they are Brandenburg, so popular among the people?
Let's figure it out
1. Location
The object of our research is located in the very center of Berlin in the Mitte district, where government offices and embassies are located in historically significant beautiful buildings.
2. Architectural symbol
The gate is a triumphal arch, the construction of which marked the beginning of a new architectural appearance of Berlin. Thus, the famous gate became a symbol of the new era of the capital.
3. Antiquity
Such arches were erected by Roman emperors in honor of an important historical victory. The heirs of the great German dynasties did not lag behind Rome. Once upon a time there were many arches, but now Brandenburger Tor is unique, the only surviving of such Berlin buildings.
4. Historical value
For 28 years, the symbol of Germany rested on and divided the former capital of the Third Reich into two parts - West and East Berlin. When the unification of Germany began, the Brandenburg Gate again became a symbol. Now a new peaceful united Germany.
Manifestations, demonstrations, celebrations - everything took place against the backdrop of Brandenburger Tor.
An analogy just suggests itself to me: the Soviet country, which defeated fascism, placed its nose in the corner (in the corner of the Berlin Wall) the symbol of the great and invincible Germany - the triumphal arch (Brandenburg Gate).
In 1989, the triumphal arch was "allowed to come out of the corner."
The Hall of Silence is now located in the left wing of the building. A place where everyone can be quiet and think.
Conclusion: The Brandenburg Gate, no matter how you look at it, is the most important attraction of Berlin.
Now let's move on to the details.
Architecture
The Arc de Triomphe was born in 1791. And they called it “The Gate of Peace.”
This great structure was built from 1789 to 1791 by Karl Gottgard Langhans. The appearance of the arch marked the beginning of the development of a new style of Berlin architecture - Berlin classicism.
The main decoration of the facade, painted white, was a six-meter quadriga drawn by four horses.
Since then, Victoria, the goddess of victory, has ascended over the city. She guided Berlin to victories and protected it from enemies.
The quadriga was created by Johann Gottfried Schadow, who also became the author of all the other decorative elements of the triumphal gate.
One day, the goddess Victoria left “her hometown.” This happened after the conquest of Berlin by Napoleon.
The emperor ordered the chariot to be removed from the gate and transported to Paris. But Victoria remained faithful to her people and did not exchange her beloved Berlin for beautiful, but alien Paris.
As soon as the German army achieved revenge, Victoria returned to her homeland. At the same time, the Iron Cross, the creation of Friedrich Schinkel, was added to the sculpture.
During the fighting of World War II, the arch was badly damaged and the quadriga was completely destroyed.
From 1945 to 1957, the USSR flag flew in its place. It was then replaced by the GDR flag.
The restoration of the landmark took place almost ten years later.
The Quadriga was recreated again by 1958. But three years later, passage through the arch was blocked by the Berlin Wall.
So the main attraction of the modern city became part of East Berlin, and residents of West Berlin could not get to it.
For 28 long years, the symbol of Berlin was isolated from other buildings in the city, and it was impossible to appreciate its beauty and grandeur.
The joyful event - the unification of Germany - was not at all joyful for the Brandenburg Gate. The quadriga suffered once again from the violent manifestations of joy of the united German people.
Finally, in 1991, the Brandenburg Gate was restored and the sculpture took its historical place.
Brandenburger Tor today
Now Brandenburger Tor are an organic part of the ensemble of buildings of Paris Square (Pariserplatz).
For modern Berlin, this building has become a calling card. The most recognizable, most replicated, most popular landmark of the city.
Once part of the wall that divided the country, the arch is now perceived as a symbol of reconciliation and unification of Germany.
At the northern wing of the gate there is a Hall of Silence - a special room where residents of modern Germany can reflect in silence on the tragic fate of their people, to which this building so often became unwitting witnesses.
Tiergarten park
How to get there
There are different ways to get to the Brandenburg Gate - all roads lead to it.
- Metro. Line U-55 to the final station, which is called Brandenburger Tor.
- by city train S-Bahn S-1, S-2, S-25. You will need to get off at the stop with the same name Brandenburger Tor.
Address: Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Brandenburg Gate on the map
That’s probably all we wanted to tell you about the most popular attraction in Berlin.
Subscribe to our blog updates and see you soon!
Sincerely,