Brandenburg Gate

The Brandenburg Gate rises up at the westerly end of the Pariser Platz and can be seen for miles around. It was once the symbol of divided Germany but also became the symbol of German reunification in November 1989. The Gate was erected by the architect Carl Gotthard Langhans out of sandstone in 1788-91. It is based on the magnificent entrance area of the Acropolis in Athens. At the same time, however, Langhans assimilated a typical feature of the Roman Empire - the Quadriga, a victory chariot pulled by four horses. The Brandenburg Gate served originally as a City Gate whilst at the same time serving as a splendid conclusion to the Boulevard Unter den Linden. It was opened to traffic on the 6th August 1791.

The 5 metre high Quadriga with Victoria the Godess of Victory was constructed by Johann Gottfried Schadow. It could only be erected in 1795, however, because of an argument over the figure. In order to remain true to the classical tradition, Victoria should have driven the chariot naked. However, she had to look in the direction of Berlin Castle and you can imagine, therefore, the view which would greet visitors approaching Berlin from a westerly direction - a naked bottom. Kaiser Frederick William II therefore arranged for Victoria to be covered with a robe. Both the Gate and the Quadriga have had an eventful history. On the 27th October 1806 the Emperor Napoleon entered through the Brandenburg Gate and occupied the Prussian capital. In accordance with the rights of a victor, he had the Quadriga dismantled and packed it away in 12 boxes which he then transported to Paris. In consequence of Napoleon’s eventual defeat, the Quadriga was transported back to Berlin in 1814. In memory of the struggle against Napoleon’s troops Victoria was decorated with an Iron Cross, a laurel wreath and the Prussian Eagle. In 1945 the Brandenburg Gate was badly damaged and the Quadriga lay in ruins. In the western part of the city were only the 5000 unnumbered parts of a plaster cast which had been prepared in 1942 These were used to reconstruct the Quadriga in 1957. It was the only joint reconstruction project carried out by the two opposing power blocks. The East German leader, however, required the Prussian Eagle and Iron Cross be left off and therefore, during the Cold War period Victoria instead held a staff with an oak leaf crown in her hand. Only with its reconstruction after German reunification in 1991 did the Prussian Eagle and Iron Cross reappear. Controversy has raged since reunification over the question as to whether vehicular traffic should once again be allowed to pass through the Gate. In the meantime only pedestrians and cyclists are allowed to pass through the 20m high, 65m wide and 11 metre deep monument. After comprehensive restoration Berlin’s most famous landmark was again revealed on the 3rd October 2002. The event was marked with great festivities.