The Brandenburg Gate ( Brandenburger Tor ) in Berlin is one of the first landmarks that come to mind when thinking of Germany. It is not only a symbol of the city, but of the country.
German history was made here, many different times with the Brandenburg Gate playing many different roles. It reflects the country’s troubled past and its peaceful achievements like no other landmark in Germany.
Brandenburg gate architecture
Commissioned by Friedrich Wilhelm, the Brandenburg Gate was designed by architect Carl Gotthard Langhans in 1791. It was built on the site of a former city gate that marked the start of the road from Berlin to the city of Brandenburg an der Havel.
The design of the Brandenburg Gate was inspired by the Acropolis in Athens. It was the grand entrance to the boulevard Unter den Linden that led to the palace (currently under reconstruction) of the Prussian monarchs.
Napoleon and the statue of Victoria
The monument is crowned with the sculpture of the Quadriga, a four-horse chariot driven by Victoria, the winged goddess of victory. This goddess has had a journey. In the Napoleonic Wars in 1806, after French forces defeated the Prussian army, Napoleon’s troops brought the Quadriga sculpture to Paris as a war trophy. However, he still did not stay in place. The Prussian army regained it in 1814 with their victory over the French.
Brandenburg Gate y los nazis
More than a hundred years later, the Nazis would use the Brandenburg Gate for their own means. In 1933, they marched through the gate in a parade of martial torches, celebrating Hitler’s rise to power and ushering in the darkest chapter in German history.
The Brandenburg Gate survived WWII, but with severe damage. The site was rebuilt and the statue’s remaining solitary horse head was preserved in the Märkisches Museum.
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
The Brandenburg Gate became infamous in the Cold War when it was the sad symbol of the division of Berlin and the rest of Germany. The Gate was interposed between East and West Germany, becoming part of the Berlin Wall. When John F. Kennedy visited the Brandenburg Gate in 1963, the Soviets hung large red banners on the gate to prevent it from facing east.
It was here that Ronald Reagan gave his unforgettable speech:
«Secretary General Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come to this door! Mr. Gorbachev, open this door! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall ! «
In 1989, a peaceful revolution ended the Cold War. A confusing series of events led to people breaking down the Great Berlin Wall. Thousands of East and West Berliners met at the Brandenburg Gate for the first time in decades, clambering up its walls and clawing defiantly while David Hasselhoff put on a live show. Images of the area around the gate were highlighted by media coverage around the world.
Brandenburg Gate today
The Berlin Wall had fallen overnight and East and West Germany were reunited. The Brandenburg Gate was reopened, becoming the symbol of a new Germany.
The gate was restored between 2000 and 2002 by the Stiftung Denkmalschutz Berlin (Berlin Monument Conservation Foundation) and continues to be a site of inspiration and photography. Look for the big Christmas tree from late November to December, the mega stars that perform for Silvester (New Years concert), and the tourists throughout the year.
Visitor Information for the Brandenburg Gate
Today, the Brandenburg Gate is one of the most visited landmarks in Germany and in Europe. Do not miss the site during your visit to Berlin.
Address: Pariser Platz 1 10117 Berlin
How to get there: Unter den Linden S1 and S2, Brandenburg Gate U55 or Bus 100
Cost: Free
Other historical essentials of Berlin
- The Brandenburg Gate is part of the Berlin walking tour
- 10 best free things in Berlin
- Climb the iconic Fernsehturm (TV Tower)
- East Side Gallery: the longest remaining section of the Berlin Wall
- Look for the Stolpersteine monuments at your feet
