Germany

Brandenburg Gate

Without knowing the history, we can say that this is the usual triumphal gate, of which there are many in Europe. But when you remember our grandfathers, you understand that you need to visit here and stand nearby. The Brandenburg Gate is a symbol of victory, a symbol of the unification of people and their families. This is like the Kremlin in Moscow or Times Square in New York. Nearby are the Memorial to Soviet Warriors and the Reichstag.

Brandenburg Gate, photo by Raoni

The Brandenburger Tor is located at the end of Unter den Linden in front of the Tiergarten park. They became the main symbol of Berlin. Once it was one of several gates through which you could enter the city, but at the end of the XVIII century they were turned into a triumphal arch.

The architect of the construction was Karl Gottgard Langgans, and the gate was erected at the request of King of Prussia Frederick William II, heir to Frederick the Great. Langgans used the Propylaea of ​​the Acropolis of Athens as a model and designed the gates in the style of Berlin Classicism, which consist of 6 solid columns with five passages (ordinary people were allowed to go only to the extreme). The gates were built in the years 1778-1791; they had a width of 62.5 m, a depth of 11 m and a height of 20.3 m. After 2 years, a quadriga by Johann Gottfried Schadov was placed above the gate (their height reached 26 m).

Brandenburg Gate in June 1945, photo by Weinrother, Carl

Over the years, the design of the gate has remained unchanged, although they had to withstand a lot of shocks. In 1806, Napoleon took the chariot he liked to Paris, but after the defeat of France, the quadriga with the goddess Victoria returned to their place, but since then the iron cross has been in the hands of the goddess instead of the olive branch. In 1871, troops who defeated the French army returned through this gate, after which the square at the gate was called Paris. In 1933, the National Socialists celebrated their election success here. During the war, the gates stood, but were partially destroyed. In 1956 they were restored, and after a couple of years they returned to the place and the quadriga, the restoration of which was financed by West Berlin.

Quadriga, photo by Shirley de Jong

Since 1945, the USSR flag fluttered on the quadriga, and from the GDR in 1957. After the unification of Germany in 1989, the flag is no longer hoisted on the gates.

After the construction of the Berlin Wall, the gate turned out to be in the eastern part of the city, and the wall ugly rounded them. Today there is no wall, and the gates fit perfectly into urban architecture, becoming a symbol of a united Berlin. In 2001, the gates were restored and reopened on October 3, 2002.

Brandenburg Gate at night
Brandenburg Gate East
Holiday Gate Lighting

How to get there

Take the S1, S2, S25 commuter train or U55 subway to Brandenburger Tor Station

How do I save on hotels?

Everything is very simple - look not only at the booking. I prefer the search engine RoomGuru. He is looking for discounts at the same time on Booking and on 70 other booking sites.

Discounted hotels here

Watch the video: Anti-Flag - Brandenburg Gate ft. Tim Armstrong (November 2024).

Popular Posts

Category Germany, Next Article

Teramo
Abruzzo

Teramo

Teramo is the capital of the province of the same name in the Abruzzo region. The population of the city is 55 thousand people, and it is located 200 km northeast of Rome. In the north and west, the province of Teramo borders on the Marche and Lazio regions. They are separated by the Monti della Laga mountain range (Monti della Laga), which belongs to the Abruzzo Apennines.
Read More
Gran Sasso National Park
Abruzzo

Gran Sasso National Park

The Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga (Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga) is one of three national parks that make up Europe’s green lungs. So called Abruzzo - a country of parks and reserves: 4 parks (3 national and one regional), 38 reserves has a small region.
Read More
Pescara - what to see, where to stay
Abruzzo

Pescara - what to see, where to stay

Pescara (Pescara) - a provincial town, lying 155 km from Rome on the opposite side of the "Italian boot" - the Adriatic coast. This city has become a transportation hub, the gateway to the Abruzzo region. Pescara International Airport (Aeroporto Internazionale d'Abruzzo), the railway station (Stazione Pescara Centrale) and the bus station connect the region with the major communication points of Europe, Italy, as well as with the small communes of the Pescara province itself.
Read More
Lake Barrea - A Hidden Tale in the Abruzzo Region
Abruzzo

Lake Barrea - A Hidden Tale in the Abruzzo Region

Lake Barrea (Lago di Barrea) is located in the National Park of Abruzzo (Parco nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise), in the valley between the mountains of the Genzana (2070 m) and Monti della Meta (2242 m). This is not the largest and perhaps not the most impressive Italian lake. Its purpose is different: it heals people from the bustle of the civilized world.
Read More