Siegessäule (Victory Column), Berlin

.... isn't actually an angel at all but that is what she is known as and everyone would know what you were talking about if you asked where it was so let's not be pedantic here.

I am very fond of her anyway and it was great to see her still looking so good after 30-odd years. I always felt we were "nearly home" whenever we had been out in the car on family visits somewhere and I saw her.. I knew Charlottenburg wasn't too far away! In fact she can be seen for miles in many directions and visitors can climb up to the viewing platform. I'm not sure if there is a charge for this as I didn't go up - (having walked the length of 17 Juni Strasse I didn't really feel up to it! )

West of Branderburg Gate there was wide boulevard (Straße des 17 Juni) which crossed the Tiergarten park. The boulevard was dominated by 67m (220 ft) high Victory Column (Siegessäule in German) which stood in the middle of roundabout called Großer Stern (Larger Circle). The column was built in 1864–73 to commemorate victory in the Prussian-Danish war. There was the golden statue of Victory (35 tons!) on its top which was added after further victories against Austria and France.

The most interesting fact is that the column first stood in another place: on the Königsplatz (now the Platz der Republik, in front of the Reichstag) and in 1938/39, the monument was moved to the Großer Stern. Hmm... they had to use quite special technology and technics to move it.
I remember this landmark of Berlin from TV showing over 1 milion ravers dancing around Victory Column during Loveparade.


There was a viewing platform on the column just below the statue (access by stairs) which offered a panoramic view of the city (2.20 €).

HOURS:
Wintertime
daily 9.30 am - 5.30 pm;
Summertime (1 April - 31 October)
daily 9.30 am - 6.30 pm.

This momument was once opposite the Reichstag but was moved in the 1940's. After running up the 250 or so steps it has some amazing views and you can see right down the road to the Brandenburg gate too.

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Built in 1873, commemorates the deeds of the soldiers in the Prussian army s.XIX, especially Denmark, Austria and France. The Nazis went to the Tiergarten in 1938 from its former location in the Reichstag, and also lengthen your spine, which currently reaches 67 meters.

Construida en 1.873, conmemora las hazañas militares del ejercito prusiano en el s.XIX, en especial sobre Dinamarca, Austria y Francia. Los nazis la trasladaron a Tiergarten en 1938, desde su antigua ubicacion en el Reichstag, y tambien alargaron su columna, que actualmente alcanza los 67 metros.

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Situated on a roundabout in the centre of the Tiergarten (access via a tunnel) the column provides views of the city from its 48m high viewing platform. There isn't a lift, you have to ascend 285 steps of a spiral staircase. The view is worth the climb though.

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The Victory Column is a famous sight in Berlin built after 1864 to commemorate the Prussian victory in the Danish-Prussian war, by the time it was inaugurated in 1873 Prussia had also defeated Austria in the Austro-Prussian War and France in the Franco-Prussian War, giving the statue a new purpose. Later victories in the so-called Unification Wars inspired the addition of the bronze sculpture of Victoria, 8.3 meters high and weighing 35 tonnes.

Surrounded by a heavily trafficked street circle, pedestrians can reach the column through four tunnels, built in 1941. Via a steep spiral staircase of 285 steps, the physically fit may, for a small fee, climb almost to the top of the column, to just under the statue and take-in the spectacular views over the Tiergarten.

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This has always been one of my favourite attractions in Berlin. A lonesome column, crowned by a golden angel, in the middle of a busy roundabout named Großer Stern (Big Star). When Berlin was divided we often drove around there and had a look towards Brandenburger Tor in No Man’s Land.

Now as the Wall has gone, you can enjoy a very nice walk from Brandenburger Tor to Siegessäule. Straße des 17. Juni cuts through the enormous park of Tiergarten, and you walk under huge old trees that even shield you in heavy rain. But be prepared, it is a walk of nearly 2 km, past one of the Soviet War Memorials. (Only tour buses drive down this boulevard.) From Siegessäule it is only a short walk to Schloss Bellevue, residence of Germany's President.

The column is 66,89 m high. It was erected as the sign of victory of the Prussians in the combats against Denmark (German-Danish war in 1864), Austria (1866, during the German War) and France (1871, German-French War). It was inaugurated on 2 September 1873. Berliners call the goddess Victoria Gold-Else. They say this is a loving nickname – to me it sounds disrepectful, perhaps because in a famous German sketch Else is a cow!

But this does not change anything in the beauty of the Siegessäule. It is made of polished red granite – and lots and lots of smaller columns. The base is rather massive, reminding of a round Greek temple. The column, also made up of hundreds of columns, gets thinner towards the top where the glorious golden goddess raises her arms and wings.

The base is decorated with four bronze bas-reliefs of great battles. Those had to be removed in 1945 on request of the French and transported to Paris but were re-attached during renovation works in the late 1980’s.

You reach reach the monument through pedestrian tunnels from four corners of the five roads that meet at the roundabout. A spiral staircase with 285 steps leads up to a viewing platform at 50 metres. Great views over Berlin.

Open daily 9.30am – 6.30pm (winter 5.30pm).
Admission 2.20 Euro (as 2007).

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Siegessaule (The Victory Column) was built to commommorate the victory of Prussia over Denmrak in Battle Of Sedan. This monument was originally built in front of Reichstag. This was shifted to the present location in the middle of Tier Garten during Nazi era. This tall column provides a panoramic view of Berlin from top. The statue of Godess Victoria designed by F Drake is erected at the top of this memmorial. This monument is open to visitors from 9 AM to 6 PM except Mondays. On Mondays admission starts at 3 PM