Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor)

Brandenburg Gate is one of the most important landmarks in Berlin. It is both  a landmark and an emblem of the city with over two hundred years of history. One of Germany’s best-known landmarks, it was built on the site of an old city gate which marked the start of the road from Berlin to the city of Brandenburg an der Havel, once the capital of the Brandenburg Margraviate. It is situated within Mitte, in the western part of Berlin city centre, at the intersection of Unter den Linden and Ebertstraße.

Quick facts

• Name: Brandenburg Gate
• Location: Berlin, Germany
• Type of attraction: Architectural
• Built: 18th century
• Ticket price: Free

The Brandenburg Gate stands in front of Pariser Platz, one of the city’s most beautiful squares. The buildings surrounding this ancient area were in ruins by the conclusion of WWII. After German reunification in the 1990s, reconstruction at this great location began, and the buildings now feature elegant town residences, embassies, and the stunning five-star Hotel Adlon.

Due to its central location, it is a perfect spot to start exploration of Berlin. It is also the most photographed spot in the city.

In 1793, Johann Gottfried Schadow mounted the Quadriga atop the Brandenburg Gate. Peace was represented in the city by a statue of a chariot with two wheels, drawn by four horses trotting side by side. The goddess Victoria is at the helm, controlling the horses. Three separate occasions, the sculpture was removed from the Brandenburg Gate.

Napoleon rode the Quadriga to Paris after his 1806 victory over Prussia. Eight years later, thanks to the Alliance’s victory, it was able to be relocated back to its original spot. Bombing during World War II caused extensive damage to the Brandenburg Gate and the Quadriga. In 1956, when the gate was being renovated, the sculpture had to be removed and replaced with a replica.

During the time that Berlin was divided, the Brandenburg Gate took on a greater symbolic significance. After the Berlin Wall was built in August 1961, no one from East Berlin or the West could visit the memorial because it was located in the restricted area.

After the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, the Brandenburg Gate came to represent the reunification of Germany. More than a hundred thousand people cheered as the gate opened on December 22, 1989. It took two years to repair the damage done to the Quadriga during reunion celebrations.

Because of its prime location in the middle of the city, the Brandenburg Gate’s sandstone will eventually deteriorate. The gate was permanently damaged every year from the New Year’s Eve fireworks that were set off above it. Therefore, on October 3, 2002, the Brandenburg Gate was ceremonially unveiled again following a renovation process that lasted over two years. Since then, it’s been attracting visitors from all over the world again.

Pariser Platz (or “Parisian Square”), where the Brandenburg Gate may be seen, is often considered to be one of the most attractive public spaces in all of Berlin. Several notable structures, including the Adlon Kempinski Hotel, the University of the Arts, and the United States Embassy, border the square that is readily accessible from the grand street Unter den Linden. Cafés and eateries in the area encourage guests to linger and take in the one-of-a-kind ambiance.

Interesting facts about Brandenburg Gate

Here are some interesting fact about this historic landmark:

• The gate became symbol of unity for Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
• Sculpture on top is representing chariot, Quadriga, ancient term for chariots with four horses.
• Pillars and carvings are inspired by Ancient Greece architecture and art.

Read more: Interesting facts about Brandenburg Gate