Brandenburg Gate
Erected in 1791, the Brandenburg Gate was one of the German capital’s 14 original city gates. Today, the only evidence of the others’ existence are the names of metro stations, such as Schlesisches Tor and Kottbusser Tor. The design of the Brandenburger Tor was inspired by the Acropolis in
Athens. The famous statue on top of the gate is Victoria, the goddess of triumph riding atop a four-horsed chariot. It was crafted by the sculptor Gottfried Schadow. In 1806, the sculpture was taken to
Paris by Napoleon’s troops as a war trophy only to be returned to Berlin after the ultimate war defeat of the French.
The Brandenburg Gate area has played a major role in the history of the city. During the Nazi period, it was the army’s favourite spot for military parades and torch-lit processions. It was seriously damaged during WWII bombings and carefully restored in the 1950s. After the construction of the Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg Gate couldn’t be accessed from anywhere in the city. It soon became a symbol of the dramatic division of the capital. After the fall of the wall, thousands gathered around the gate to celebrate the beginning of the new reality. Today, it’s no longer considered to be a symbol of division, but of a whole new era in the history of a magnificent city. It’s certainly one of Berlin’s most recognisable symbols.
Name: Brandenburg Gate
Address: Am Pariser Platz
see map
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