Brandenburger Tor, Berlin

It was already in the early evening, but we wanted to go to the Brandenburger Tor. Last time I visited there, it was about 13 years ago and you still saw the differences in the divided town. I was really fascinated about the gate and the Pariser Platz with Hotel Adlon.

This is probably the place most tourists head for straight after they come to Berlin. At least we did so. We were lucky to see there a temporary exhibition presenting the history of the Gate. Looking at the photographs it was easier to imagine different stages the place has gone through.
Branderburger Tor was built in 1791 as one of 18 city gates and is the only one that remained. Six doric columns form 5 passageways of which the middle one is the widest. This one was used by the sovereign and the royal family. At the top we can see the Quadriga - a chariot pulled by four horses and driven by the goddess of victory. The gate had to part with its chariot for almost eight years when in 1806 Napoleon took it to Paris. After Napoleon's defeat, Prussian soldiers brought the quadriga back to Berlin. This time a new addition was made - a Prussian eagle. For years the Gate has been a silent witness of many events. During the WW II the buildings around were destroyed and for a long time the Gate was standing lonely, becoming the symbol of division into the East and West. On August 13, 1961 it was the first border checkpoint to be closed. After 28 years it was also here that Berliners celebrated the reunification. And thus the Gate has become the symbol of freedom.

A real icon of Berlin, built between 1789 and 1791

You can now walk through the gate and have coffee in one of the cafes in Pariser Platz and take a long look at The Quadriga (four horse chariot).

Strange to think that during the Cold War, the gate stood right in the middle of the no man's land along the Berlin Wall.

We visited the tor on a lovely sunny day. The Olympic torch happened to be visiting on it's way to greece on the same day so it was quite busy!
We took a Bicycle/Taxi/Rickshaw -whatever for a spin and enjoyed a relaxing ride down the beautiful tree lined avenue that leads to the large column (which name i forget)
I only wish we'd got the return journey it was one hell of a walk back (actually hailed a cab)
Anyway - it's worth a look and I reccomend the ride on rickshaw!

The Brandenburg gate is probably the most well known landmark in Berlin. It was commissioned by Friedrich Wilhelm II to represent peace and was designed by Karl Gotthard Langhans. When the Berlin wall fell, Mstilav Rostropovich, one of the greatest cellists of our time, and many other musicians performed at the gate. I guess the gate served its purpose as a symbol for peace pretty well.

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The Brandenburg Gate is Berlin's trademark and the only remaining city gate.

It was erected in 1791 based on plans by C.G. Langhans. It has 12 Doric columns and is based on the propylaeum of the Acropolis in Athens. On the top, a statue depicting the Goddess of Victory faces eastwards towards the city center.

The Brandenburg Gate became the symbol of the divided since it stood just on the eastern side of the Wall.

There was the entrance marked by the table "Raum der stille" and "Room of silence" on the right side/wing of the Brandenburg Gate. We got inside to a room where an older German lady sold some books and leaflets. She welcomed us and when she got to know that we were from Poland she smiled and started to sing... Polish national anthem in Polish language surely with German accent. Haha, it was very nice, we were very, very surpriced. Then the woman unexpectadly started to cry "let's live Poland". At this time we were a little bit confused. Haha, the woman didn't speak English so we couldn't comminucate.

Then we came into the empty room with candles and some modern paintings on the wall (on the picture) - it was just the room of silence, the place designated for serious reflection on the not so old past of divided Berlin and Europe, the victims of that time etc.

Built by Friedrich Wilhelm II this is an symbol of the division of the Cold East- West Germany. Today is the most popular symbol of reunited Germany. So a trip here is a must so you can check off your list of sights.