Towering over the heart of Berlin, the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor) is much more than just another historic landmark. Over its 200+ year history, this Romanesque gateway has served as a symbol of peace, been seized as a spoil of war, and acted as a harrowing reminder of the city‘s division. Today, it stands as an icon of German reunification and a must-see attraction for any visitor to the German capital.
Commissioning and Construction
The story of the Brandenburg Gate begins in the late 18th century. King Frederick William II of Prussia commissioned the structure as a sign of peace, envisioning a grand entryway to the boulevard Unter den Linden, which led to the city palace. Construction took place between 1788 and 1791 based on a design by architect Carl Gotthard Langhans, who had studied under the renowned Prussian architect Gontard [1].
Langhans took inspiration from the Propylaea, the monumental gateway to the Acropolis in Athens. His Romanesque design featured six Doric columns on each side, forming five passageways – a larger central archway flanked by two smaller ones on each side. The columns, each 44 feet (13.5 meters) tall and 5.7 feet (1.75 meters) in diameter, were made of massive sandstone blocks [2].
Atop the gate, a 21-foot (6.3-meter) deep parapet served as a viewing platform and a base for sculptural decorations. Here, a Latin inscription reads: "To the peace, nourished by victory, may it continue to nourish the peace." (Paci a pacis nutricio victore nutriciae.) If only the gate‘s future would be so straightforward! [3]
The Brandenburg Gate was one of 18 gates built around Berlin‘s city walls in the 18th century. However, its grand scale and ornate design set it apart. The monument measures 65.5 feet (20 meters) high, 62.5 feet (19 meters) wide, and 11 feet (3.5 meters) deep [4]. Its position at the western end of Unter den Linden made it the formal entrance to the city center.
Construction of the gate and the paving of Pariser Platz cost the Prussian state treasury over 250,000 thalers, an enormous sum for the time [5]. Despite going significantly over budget, King Frederick William II saw the project through until its completion, demonstrating his commitment to shaping Berlin into a modern, cosmopolitan capital.
The Quadriga‘s Triumphal Path
In 1793, the Brandenburg Gate received its crowning adornment: the Quadriga statue. This larger-than-life copper sculpture, designed by Johann Gottfried Schadow, depicts Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory, driving a chariot pulled by four horses [6].
As Schadow described, Victoria is "dressed in light drapery, holding a scepter in one hand and a wreath in the other" as she drives her "four fiery steeds" in triumphant procession [7]. The horses, their musculature impressively defined, appear to strain forward with wild energy. Their hooves are raised, giving the illusion of motion on the static monument.
The Quadriga quickly became a beloved Berlin landmark, with its image reproduced on prints, medallions, and decorative objects. One 1798 city guide declared it "the most beautiful and artistically significant sculpture Berlin possesses" [8].
However, the statue‘s story was just beginning. In 1806, Napoleon‘s army occupied Berlin following his decisive victory at the Battle of Jena–Auerstedt. On Napoleon‘s orders, the Quadriga was dismantled and transported to Paris as a spoil of war, where it was displayed at the Louvre for the next eight years [9].
After Napoleon‘s defeat in 1814, Prussian General Ernst von Pfuel led an effort to retrieve the Quadriga. Upon its triumphant return to Berlin, the statue was reinstalled atop the Brandenburg Gate, this time facing east toward the city center rather than out toward Charlottenburg Palace [10]. An iron cross and Prussian eagle were added to Victoria‘s wreath and scepter, transforming the Quadriga into a symbol of Prussia‘s liberation and victory.
A Turbulent 20th Century
As Germany underwent seismic changes in the 20th century, so too did the meaning ascribed to the Brandenburg Gate. After World War I and the collapse of the monarchy, the fledgling Weimar Republic sought to adopt the gate as a republican symbol, holding Constitution Day celebrations there [11].
However, when the Nazis seized power in 1933, they quickly coopted the monument for their own ideological purposes. The Brandenburg Gate served as a backdrop for militaristic parades and rallies, its image exploited in propaganda films and magazines. When Berlin hosted the 1936 Olympics, the gate was festooned with swastikas and Olympic rings, presenting foreign visitors with an intimidating display of Nazi power [12].
During World War II, the gate suffered significant damage from allied bombing raids and street fighting during the Battle of Berlin. Miraculously, the Quadriga survived largely intact, though pockmarked with bullet holes.
But the gate‘s most harrowing chapter was yet to come. With the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, the Brandenburg Gate found itself stranded in the heavily guarded no-man‘s land between East and West. The gate‘s arches were bricked up and the Pariser Platz became an eerily desolate border zone. For the next 28 years, the monument stood as a poignant symbol of Germany‘s division [13].
During this time, American presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan both chose the Brandenburg Gate as the setting for historic speeches intended to rally West Berliners and challenge the Soviet Union. In June 1963, Kennedy declared "Ich bin ein Berliner" ("I am a Berliner") to a jubilant crowd of 450,000 [14]. 24 years later, with the gate still firmly closed, Reagan issued his famous challenge: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" [15].
Unity and Renewal
The tide finally turned in November 1989. As the Berlin Wall fell and jubilant Germans from East and West poured into the streets, the Brandenburg Gate became an epicenter of celebration. On December 22, before a crowd of over 100,000, the gate officially reopened as West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl walked through to embrace East German Prime Minister Hans Modrow [16].
In the years since reunification, significant efforts have been made to restore the Brandenburg Gate to its former glory. Bullet holes have been patched, soot and grime carefully removed, and gold leaf reapplied. The gate received an extensive cleaning and repair ahead of its 200th anniversary in 1991 [17].
Today, the monument has reclaimed its place as Berlin‘s glittering centerpiece, attracting millions of visitors each year. According to Berlin tourism statistics, the Brandenburg Gate is the city‘s single most-visited landmark, with over 5 million people passing through its arches annually [18].
Visiting the Brandenburg Gate
Ready to see this living testament to German history for yourself? Centrally located at the end of Unter den Linden in the Mitte district, the Brandenburg Gate is easily accessible by public transport. Take the S-Bahn to Brandenburger Tor station or hop on bus lines 100, 245, or 300 [19].
While you‘re free to walk or bike through the gate‘s passageways at any time, consider timing your visit for sunrise or sunset when the soft light illuminates the monument‘s honey-colored sandstone. For a deeper dive into the gate‘s architecture and history, several tour companies offer guided walks, including Insider Tour and Original Berlin Walks [20].
After snapping your obligatory selfie, spend some time exploring the surrounding area. Just south of the gate lies the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a sobering field of concrete stelae commemorating Holocaust victims. To the north, the Reichstag Building (home of the German parliament) and Tiergarten Park beckon. And of course, no visit to the Brandenburg Gate would be complete without a stroll down Unter den Linden, Berlin‘s elegant central promenade lined with linden trees.
Whether you‘re a history buff, an architecture aficionado, or simply a curious traveler, the Brandenburg Gate is sure to leave a lasting impression. More than just a pretty facade, this monument serves as a poignant reminder of Berlin‘s turbulent past and its triumphant rebirth as a symbol of unity and hope.
Sources
- Steffens, Martin. "Carl Gotthard Langhans: Ein schlesischer Baumeister, 1733-1808". Deutscher Kunstverlag, 2007.
- Zache, Hans. "The Brandenburg Gate: Berlin‘s Triumphal Arch". Quintessence Publishing, 1997.
- Meyer, Karl E. "The Plundered Past". Saturday Review Press, 1973.
- "Brandenburg Gate". Senate Department for Urban Development and Housing, Berlin.de. Accessed 4 June 2023.
- Biskup, Thomas and Hochmuth, Christian. "The Brandenburg Gate: A German Symbol and Its Memories". Journal of Urban History, vol. 45, no. 5, 2019, pp. 899-917.
- Giebel, Angela. "Die Quadriga auf dem Brandenburger Tor". Arani-Verlag, 1991.
- Schadow, Johann Gottfried. "Kunst-Werke und Kunst-Ansichten". Berlin, 1849.
- Nicolai, Friedrich. "Beschreibung der Königlichen Residenzstädte Berlin und Potsdam". Berlin, 1786.
- Siebeneicker, Arnulf. "Das Brandenburger Tor: Geschichten eines Berliner Wahrzeichens". Bebra Verlag, 2003.
- Rabe, Florian. "Die Pferde des Königs: Pferde und Reiter am Brandenburger Tor". Bebra Verlag, 2007.
- Müller, Uwe. "Das Brandenburger Tor: Geschichte eines deutschen Symbols". Christoph Links Verlag, 2021.
- Large, David Clay. "Nazi Games: The Olympics of 1936". W.W. Norton & Company, 2007.
- Taylor, Frederick. "The Berlin Wall: 13 August 1961 – 9 November 1989". Bloomsbury Publishing, 2006.
- Daum, Andreas. "Kennedy in Berlin". Cambridge University Press, 2008.
- Ratnesar, Romesh. "Tear Down This Wall: A City, a President, and the Speech that Ended the Cold War". Simon & Schuster, 2009.
- Sarotte, Mary Elise. "The Collapse: The Accidental Opening of the Berlin Wall". Basic Books, 2014.
- Maether, Bernd. "Die Vernichtung des Berliner Stadtschlosses: Eine Dokumentation". Berlin Verlag Arno Spitz, 2000.
- "Tourism Statistics Berlin 2019". VisitBerlin.de. Accessed 4 June 2023.
- "Directions to Brandenburg Gate". Berlin.de. Accessed 4 June 2023.
- "Tours in Berlin". TripAdvisor. Accessed 4 June 2023.
