The Brandenburg Gate is one of the most impressive creations of German classicism. It became a symbol of the cold war after the division of Berlin, and since the fall of the GDR it has been considered a symbol of German unity.
The Brandenburg Gate in the German capital Berlin was built from 1788 to 1791 at the behest of Prussian King Frederick William II and is the most famous landmark of Berlin. It was built according to designs by Carl Gotthard Langhans. The sandstone structure is one of the most imposing buildings of German classicism and is one of our top 10 sights of Germany and Berlin.
Table of contents
PICTURES: Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
Photo gallery: Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
Where is the Brandenburg Gate?
The monumental gate is the end of the street Unter den Linden. It is 20 meters high, 65 meters wide, 11 meters deep, has five passages, the middle of which is slightly wider, and
With the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, the Brandenburg Gate suddenly stood in the middle of the restricted area and marked the border between West and East Berlin until 1990. This also made it a symbol of the division of Berlin and the Cold War.
After the fall of communism in the GDR, the gate was reopened on December 22, 1989 to the cheers of 100,000 people and has since been considered the symbol of German unity.
Quadriga as a "return payment
The famous quadriga created by the artist Gottfried Schadow - the goddess of peace Victoria on a carriage with four horses harnessed - was erected in 1794 and represents the crowning of the Brandenburg Gate. In 1806, the quadriga was brought to Paris by the French Emperor Napoleon and was to be exhibited there as looted art.
After the Allied victory over Napoleon, the quadriga was brought back to Berlin in 1814 and carefully restored. Thus, the carriage was returned to its place and the expression "Retourkutsche" became a common word.
