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Berlin Germany

Sightseeing in Berlin

: Brandenburg Gate at Night

Brandenburg Gate

Berlin's most famous landmark and has a proud history of over 200 years. Once the symbol for the separation of East and West Berlin, the Brandenburg Gate is today the symbol for German Unity.

The Brandenburg Gate was built between 1788 - 1791 by Carl Gotthard Langhans. The construction was assigned by King Frederick William II and should preserve the memory of King Frederick II who died in 1786. The classical building is made of sandstone and reminds of the Acropolis of Athens.

In 1793 the Quadriga was set on the Brandenburg Gate. In the course of time the famous sculpture was taken down three times. After the defeat of Prussia by the French In 1806, Napoleon took the Quadriga away to Paris. Eight years later the Allied Forces could retrieve the Quadriga and it was brought back to Berlin.

During the 2nd World War the Brandenburg Gate was heavily damaged by aircraft bombs. The Quadriga on top was damaged so badly it couldn't be repaired after the war was over, so it had to be replaced by a copy in 1956.

In the following 43 years, the Brandenburg Gate was the symbol for the separation of East and West Berlin because it was a border crossing point and only soldiers were allowed to stay in this area. On the 22nd December 1989 the Brandenburg Gate became the symbol for German Unity. The border from East to West Berlin was opened and over 100.000 people celebrated in front of the monument.

Due to environmental damage, the Brandenburg Gate and the Quadriga had to be refurbished in the year 2000. Two years later, on the 3rd October 2002, the building was inaugurated to the public again. Since then, it has been a tourist magnet for Germany visitors from all over the world.