Brandenburg Gate
Brandenburg Gate is a famous architectural monument that is located in the center of Berlin, at the eastern end of Pariser Platz (Pariser Platz). Like the Colosseum in Rome, Big Ben in London, St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna or the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Brandenburg Gate has long been Berlin’s calling card, a symbol of a united Germany and one of the main tourist attractions of the German capital.
Video: Light show on the Brandenburg Gate
Contents- Highlights
- Construction history and architectural features
- Sights near the Brandenburg Gate
- How to get there
Highlights
The base of the massive architectural structure was formed by two rows of columns of Doric order – six in each row. The width of these rows is 11 meters. Between the columns were five spans for horse-drawn carriages and the passage of guests and residents of the city. The central one was noticeably wider than the others. It was intended for the movement of members of the monarch’s family, its guests and foreign ambassadors. Ordinary Berliners were only allowed to use the side passages.
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But 8 years later, Irene and the chariot were recaptured and returned to the Berlin square. Everything fell into place, except for a few details. Since 1814, the ancient Greek goddess instead of the traditional olive branch held the Prussian iron cross. And she was called differently – Victoria, that is, the goddess of victory.
All who came to power in Germany, tried to strengthen their position in the German state with the help of visual symbols. The Nazis were no exception, who liked to hold crowded processions and rallies in the square in front of the gates. During their reign, the Brandenburg Gate epitomized the limitless power of Hitler’s supporters in the territory of the Third Reich.
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Between 1956 and 1958, restorers did a colossal job and returned the famous gate to its original appearance. The completely destroyed statue of Irena-Victoria was recreated using the surviving original casts from Schadow’s sculpture. Now the historic monument is so well restored and the adjoining Pariser Platz is kept so clean that it is hard to imagine the ruins that were there at the end of World War II.
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Sights near Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate stands in the center of the German capital and is the monumental entrance to the famous Unter den Linden Boulevard. It is an ornate lime alley and a very popular promenade in Berlin, which belonged to East Germany during the Cold War.
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On the opposite side of the gate, behind the 18 March Square is the Tiergarten, the largest park in the German capital. Not far from the Brandenburg Gate, a fragment of the Berlin Wall, which separated the two parts of the German state from 1961 to 1989, has been preserved.
.The beautiful Paris Square is the “ceremonial” part of Berlin. It is home to several foreign embassies, fashionable city villas, bank buildings and the luxurious Adlon Hotel. If you want to relax, you should stop by the Starbucks Cafe, which stands right on Paris Square, or have lunch at the nearby LebensArt Cafe, which serves excellent German cuisine.
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How to get there
From the Hauptbahnhof, the city’s central train station, the Brandenburg Gate is not difficult to reach on foot. First you have to walk to the Bundestag and then turn right. Soon the famous gate will appear in sight. It is difficult to get lost on this path, as literally at every step there are signs – to the Brandenburg Gate.
.From the cathedral of Berlin to the gate you can come along the picturesque boulevard Unter den Linden.
.If using the subway (line U55) or S-Bahn trains (S1, S2 and S25), go to the “Brandenburger Tor” station, which is located near the Brandenburg Gate.
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