Brandenburger Tor, Berlin

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This has been maybe the most significant symbol of the devided Germany, as the border went right through the gate. It was standing in nomansland for so long. In fact it was on the eastern part. From the west you could watch the soldiers of the NVA on the Eastern side. There have been some podests to have a look on the other side. East Berliners weren´t allowed to do , there were none viewing platforms in the east! I have an old pic from the 80s somewhere, have to scan it by time!

It always stood alone in a field of nothing, and so I was a bit shocked when I saw how many buildings were build around it these days....it looks very small and it is such a big historical monument in fact. being back in 2005 I found it warpped by cranes and building sights again. I was wondering if it will be finished someday....

I´ m a bit jealous, Fredi Bobic, a German football player was allowed to get on top of it...why wasn´ t I?

Untill 1989 western end of Berlin's main boulevard Unter den Linden was also the end of the road open for East Berliners. Margaret Thatcher's tears in front of the Brandenburg Gate seem as the distant history now when all links between East and West are re-established again under the famous sculpture of Quadriga topping the Gates.

This triumphal arch was built in 1791, modelled after the Propylaea in Athens. It saw many armies marching under its arches - Prussian army, Napoleon army and Nazis all marched under, but later the GDR army misunderstood the meaning of the word Gate and made it part of the notorious Wall, forbidding free passing under the Quadriga.

The Quadriga sculpture that crowns the gate was built in 1793 as a symbol of piece and was stolen by Napoleon in 1806 and taken to Paris, triumphally returned at its original place after the Battle of Waterloo and turned into a symbol of victory.

Today it is interesting to stop for a while in front of this famous landmark of Berlin and think about the history that shaped this city.

Recently the traffic was closed and today the area in front of the Gates is packed with the tourists. There is a very informative Tourist Office on the southern part of the Gates.

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The Brandenburg Gate is the most recogniseable sight in Berlin - and a true symbol of German Unity - once it was stuack between East and West Berlin - and after World War 2 it was pocked with bullet holes. Fortunately, it is now in its full glory again. Just the pure privilege of being able to walk through the Brandenburg Gate is worth doing - admittedly now it is something which we can take for granted, but for so many it wasn't possible. A lot of the souvenir stands have gone, which were so prolific in the 1990s after the Wall came down - they have moved to Checkpoint Charlie.

In glorious sunshine the stroll through it from the West down Unten den Linden can help take you back to the glory days. In the wet it is moody and enigmatic, a reminder of all that is good and bad with Germany from throughout recent European history.

Well worth visiting!

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The Brandenburg Gate was built in 1791 and is the ultimate symbol of Berlin. It is situated at the end of Unter den Linden, and once marked the boundary between east and west Berlin. This area of the city was almost completely destroyed during World War II, but the Brandenbrug Gate has been completely reconstructed. In fact, to this day Berliners are still trying to rebuild the structures in this area.

The Brandenburger gate was designed by Carl Gotthard. It was constructed between 1778 and 1791. The decorations, including bas scenes depicting Greek mythology took another 4 years to complete. The quadriga of victory crowning the gate was built in 1793 by Johann Gottfried Schadow. Originally it was a symbol of peace. During Berlin's occupation by France, in 1806 Napoleon ordered the quadriga to be taken to Paris. After the Battle of Waterloo, the quadriga was triumphantly taken back to Berlin, and it was turned into a symbol of victory. Situated at the end of Unter den Linden, the 60m tall gate was part of a wall surrounding the city and was the main entrance to the city. It is the only gate that remains of this former city wall. After the construction of the 1961 Berlin Wall which was built right next to the Brandenburger Tor, the Pariser Platz, on the East-Berlin side, became completely desolate. The gate symbolized Germany's division. With the fall of the wall in 1989, people flocked to the reopened Brandenburger Gate to celebrate.

The Brandenburger gate was designed by Carl Gotthard. It was constructed between 1778 and 1791. The decorations, including bas scenes depicting Greek mythology took another 4 years to complete. The quadriga of victory crowning the gate was built in 1793 by Johann Gottfried Schadow. Originally it was a symbol of peace. During Berlin's occupation by France, in 1806 Napoleon ordered the quadriga to be taken to Paris. After the Battle of Waterloo, the quadriga was triumphantly taken back to Berlin, and it was turned into a symbol of victory.

Situated at the end of Unter den Linden, the 60m tall gate was part of a wall surrounding the city and was the main entrance to the city. It is the only gate that remains of this former city wall.

After the construction of the 1961 Berlin Wall which was built right next to the Brandenburger Tor, the Pariser Platz, on the East-Berlin side, became completely desolate. The gate symbolized Germany's division. With the fall of the wall in 1989, people flocked to the reopened Brandenburger Gate to celebrate

Brandenburger Tor is a typical monument for big cities from late 18th century. It used to be a part of the city wall that surrounded Berlin (not to be confused with the Berlin Wall), and now it is the only thing that has survived.

During cold war, the gate was the symbol for the divided Berlin, standing in a desolate area in Pariser Platz. After reunification, the area has been developed and now the gate opens to Unter der Linten street that has shops, museums and cafés side by side.

Berlin's only remaining city gate, is the true symbol of the city. Because it was situated in the no man's land just behind the »wall, it also became symbolic of the division of the city. After the Fall of the Wall, the Gate was reopened on December 22, 1989.
The sandstone construction, built from 1788–91 to plans by C.G. Langhans, has 12 Doric columns and is based on the propylaeum of the Acropolis in Athens. On both sides, six Doric columns support the 11 meter-deep transverse beam, dividing the gate into five passageways. In 1794 the building was crowned with the quadriga and goddess of victory created by Schadow, which face eastwards towards the city center. The Brandenburg Gate was surrounded by further buildings which were destroyed in the war.
After the decision of Berlin' s senate on October, 22 The Brandenburg Gate remains closed for cars, cabs and busses. Berliners and their guests can enjoy now the renewed beauty of the Pariser Platz.

Pariser Platz

As part of the reconstruction of Pariser Platz, new buildings have been added which are based on their historic forebears. Pariser Platz forms the link between the Brandenburg Gate and the magnificent »Unter den Linden boulevard. It was originally a parade ground before barracks were built at the end of Unter den Linden during the reign of Friedrich Wilhelm I. Noble villas, embassies and the luxurious Hotel Adlon arose around the square. The square was destroyed in the Second World War. Since the Fall of the Wall, new buildings by renowned international architects have been and are being built. The Liebermann House and the Sommer House, newly constructed to the left and right of the Brandenburg Gate, were conceived as a pair, and their design is based on the previous buildings created by Stüler. The Dresdner Bank building follows the architectural conventions of Pariser Platz closely, without degenerating into historicism.