Brandenburger Tor, Berlin

This monument on Pariser Platz is Berlin’s most famous landmark – and although it is called a gate it has never been a real gate. The monumental construction was designed by the architect Carl Gotthard Langhans (the Older) as the magnificent western terminus of the boulevard “Unter den Linden”, in the style of Athen’s Propylaea.

During the times of the Cold War the Brandenburger Tor was the symbol of separation, as it stood right behind the Wall in Berlin’s East, and from West Berlin you could just see the top. Only GDR soldiers were allowed to go near it. Now it is the symbol of the reunification, well, the symbol of Germany, and people from all over the world can peacefully stroll around it and admire the wonderful sandstone reliefs on the inside panels between the pillars that hold the top with the famous Quadriga, designed by Johann Gottfried Schadow.

Built from 1788 to 1791 in neo-classical style, and the Quadriga added in 1793, the Brandenburger Tor has an incredibly troublesome history. The Quadriga had to be demounted no less than three times. In 1806 Napoleon took it to Paris after he had defeated the Prussians. In 1814 the successful Alliance (famous General Blücher) took it back to Berlin. During World War II it was so badly damaged that it was replaced by a replica in 1956. However, on request of the East the Iron Cross and the Eagle had to be demounted.

From 1961 to 1989 the Brandenburger Tor was isolated between the political systems. On 22 December 1989 it was opened, and 100,000 people partied around it. On on New Year’s Eve the Quadriga was damaged. In 1991 it was restored, and got the Iron Cross and the Eagle back. Damaged by air pollution and neglect, also the Gate needed a make-over some years later. It was reopened on 3 October 2002. The idea to open it for vehicular traffic was dismissed because the exhaust residues would do a lot of damage.

Click here for my tip about the construction details of Brandenburger Tor.

The neo-classical construction is 65.5 m wide, 26 m high and 11 m deep. It has six 15 m high pillars of Dorian style on each side, and those pillars are connected by a kind of limestone panels which are adorned by beautiful reliefs.

Some of the reliefs depict Hercules’s achievements.

On both sides of the Gate were guardhouses for customs and taxes. When they were not needed for this purpose anymore, they were opened up into open halls, held by pillars. In those gate-houses you find sculptures of the gods Mars and Minerva.

The Gate is crowned by the Quadriga, a two-wheeled chariot drawn by four horses and driven by the goddess of victory.

It is the only surviving of originally five city gates.

Click here for my tip about the history of Brandenburger Tor.

In the western wing of Brandenburger Tor you find the Raum der Stille (Room of Silence). A nice idea, I think. Mobile phones are not allowed – which is a welcome change to the ever beeping busy world of the always available human beings. However, you should not feel the need to relax before 11am. And you should be refreshed before 6pm. Those are the opening hours of the Room of Silence.

While in the area, we joked about the opening hours of this cool room. Sure, you should be in front of Reichstag first thing in the morning, so you do not spend the whole day in the queue of visitors of the crystal dome. But after queuing you should not be too exhausted as the Room of Silence will not be open yet. So walk past it, and visit the Holocaust Memorial. Walk slowly enough, so you do not reach the Memorial’s museum before 10am – as it does not open before that time. Stay about one hour, then slowly walk back to Brandenburger Tor, turn your mobile phone off, have a deep breath – the Raum der Stille is open now… ;-)

There is more thought behind the creation of the room than just silence. It invites people of all colours, races and origin, and finally it is an appeal for tolerance and peaceful spirit, against violence and xenophobia.

Always remember the pictures of the 89 when the wall felt down, I still remember the surroundings of the Brandemburger Tor full of people on both sides of the wall standing on top of the wall, waiting for the time when they could cross the border lines and be free. now days all the landscape has change a lot, just almost 20 years and little resambles of that era, new buildings, magnificent buildings, hotels and embassies are around this wonderful gate. in one side the Tiergarten, on the other side Mitte.

The last remaining of the city's eighteen 18th century gates. This is the symbol of Berlin.

On top of the gate is Quadriga, originally a symbol of peace. Quadriga was dismantled by Napoleon in 1806 and taken to Paris. It was returned to Berlin in 1814 and declared a symbol of Victory. The goddess Quadriga then received her (Prussian) eagle and iron cross. It was here, in May 1945, that the Soviet flag was raised. (The gate sits in East Berlin).

The north room is the Raum der Stille and opposite is a souvineer shop / tourist information.

In front of the gate is the Pariser Platz upon which sits Hotel Adlon (famous people that have stayed here include Charlie Chaplin & Bill Clinton). From Pariser Platz runs Unter den Lindon. Behind the gate is Tiergarten Park.

Images of Berlin often include the famous Brandenburg Gate. So this gate is a must-visit when you are Berlin. It is not a very grand or magnificent monument. However, it is more admired for its historical value - a symbol of unity and freedom after the unification of Berlin.

Built in the 1700s, this has become a major monument in Berlin. It was what divided the city between East and West later on and also was where Reagan gave his famous "tear down this wall" speech back in 1987. It is also right in front of the hotel where Michael Jackson dangled the baby from.

2 more images

Seeing the Brandenburg Gate in person was such an amazing thing. It's so beautiful and grande--the entrance to the Unter den Linden boulevard. It was such a thrill to walk through this gateway and to see all those people going about their daily lives.

After the Fall of the Wall the Brandenburg Gate was re-opened on December 22, 1989. Johannes, our exchange student in 1991, gave me a piece from the Wall when he lived with us. A true piece of history!