The Brandenburg Gate is an 18th century monument building, built during the reign of Prussian King Frederick William II. One of the most fascinating landmarks of Berlin, the Gate has been a witness to many a historical event and is considered a symbol of peace and unity in the European continent.
Where is Brandenburg Gate located in Berlin?
It is located in Mitte, at the western area of the city center, at the junction of Ebertstraße and Unter den Linden, to the west of Pariser Platz. A block away to the north side stands the Reichstag Building, which houses the German Parliament, Bundestag. The Brandenburg Gate is an entry to the Unter den Linden, which is a beautiful boulevard of linden trees.
History of the Brandenburg Gate
During the reign of Fredrick William in the 17th century, Berlin was a little walled city with many gates. The Berlin Customs Wall was a circular wall around the city of Berlin between 1737 and 1860, the purpose of the wall was to levy taxes on import and export of goods. There were 18 gates, out of which Brandenburg Gate was one of them.
Fredrick William II of Prussia decided to design the Brandenburg Gate as a symbol of built. The Court Superintendent of Buildings, Carl Gotthard Langhans built the gate between the years 1788 and 1791. The newly designed Brandenburg Gate had 12 columns, six to every side, resulting in 5 passageways. On the top of the gate was a chariot driven by four horses, called the Quadriga, driven by a Goddess called Eirene, the Goddess of Peace. The gate was called the ‘Peace Gate. The Quadriga is the work of the sculptor Johann Gottfried Schadow.
The design of the Brandenburg Gate is based on ‘Propylaea’,a monumental gateway in ancient Greek architecture, the Greek example being the entrance to the Athens Acropolis
The Brandenburg Gate has witnessed several historical turnouts. In the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt, Napoleon defeated the Prussians and led a triumphant march through the Brandenburg Gate, take along with him the ‘Quadriga’ to Paris.
Later in 1814, Napoleon was defeated and the Prussians took control of Paris under the leadership of General Ernst Von Pfuel. The win lead to the restoration of Quardiga back to the Brandenburg Gate. The Quadriga was redesigned and turned into a symbol of Victory, with the Goddess victory – an iron cross and a Prussian Eagle were now the additions to the laurel wreath. The square near the gate came to be known as Pariser Platz.
When the Nazis ascended to power, they used the gate as their symbol of dominance. During the World War II, it was badly damaged along with the Academy of Fine Arts. The Bradenburg Gate bore the brunt of war with signs of explosion and bullet holes.
Post the World War, efforts were made by East Berlin and West Berlin to restore the wall and the destroyed quadriga to its best possible condition.
A day after the Berlin Wall was created on August 14, 1961, the Brandenburg Gate was closed. The Gate symbolized the division of Berlin and Germany. The Berlin Fall finally fell through in November 1989 and Brandenburg Gate became the symbol of unification Of West and East Germany. The Pariser Platz which had become desolate during the creation of the Berlin Wall also redeveloped and got its former grandeur.
The Brandenburg Gate was renovated to its present splendor in 2000 to 2002 and is now one of the top 3 places to visit in Berlin. The gate was closed for renovation in those two years and was finally opened to people for visit on October 3, 2002, the 12th anniversary of German reunification. The cost involved in rebuilding the Brandenburg Gate was an estimated 6 million Euros.
Brandenburg Gate is now one of the most popular public spots in Berlin. This is the place for million of people to come together to watch football on huge screens or witness fireworks on important events like the New Year’s Eve. It is the usual finishing post for Berlin marathon. Brandeburg Gate also hosts various street events and played a prominent part in the 2018 European Athletics Championships. It was also the place where the German national football team took a victory march after winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Height and Width
It is 26 meters tall or 66 feet in height. The width is 65 meters or 213 feet wide.
Brandenburg Gate – Address
Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Mitte
Best time to Visit
The best time to visit Brandenburg Gate in the evening, especially during the sunset when you see the natural change in glowing light from peach to orange hues. It is a great selfie point for pictures and taking photos of the natural landscape, and the monument.
Brandenburg Gate – Pictures (Historical and World War 2 related)
Brandenburg Gate – Images
Brandenburg Gate – In the Evening (Pictures)
Be the first to comment