The name & fame of one of the major cities of Germany is buzzing around the world and the reason for this popularity is its modernity, tradition, and history. The city which I am introducing here is Berlin- the political and cultural capital of Germany. Berlin is quite famous its diverse mixture of new and classic architecture, historical monuments, most popular Berlin wall, museums, clubs and theatres and favourable climate. The most prominent attraction after the Berlin Wall is Brandenburg Gate.
This city is the hometown of the world-famous Berlin Opera and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, while its diverse art exhibition comprises hundreds of galleries, events, and museums, including Museum Island which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Berlin has one of the greatest numbers of scientific research institutions in Europe. It is the most notable city for media and technology for Germany.
Today in our blog we will discuss the most popular & historical monument Brandenburg Gate.
Brandenburg Gate
If you ever visited berlin then, you have noticed it or not but Brandenburg Gate is the first stop for every traveller at Berlin! It is the most iconic landmark of this vibrant city which offers captivating insights into the city’s history. This gate is only lasting historical city gate and military memorial which symbolizes peace and unity of the city, as well as of the country.
It is standing at the western end of the avenue Unter den Linden. In German, it is also known as Brandenburger Tor and it has served as a symbol of both the division and the reunion of Germany and is one of Berlin’s most-visited landmarks. It is the only remanent gate through which people used to enter Berlin. It was constructed between 1788 and 1791.
This also portrays one of the oldest and most attractive examples of a neo-classical building in Germany.
Also Read: Interesting Facts About Acropolis & Parthenon of Athens – Greece
History Associated With the Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate was Berlin’s first Greek renaissance building and it was designed by Carl Gotthard Langhans. The design of this gate was inspired by the grand entrance of Acropolis in Athens. Earlier in 1793, the gate was raised by the Quadriga statue and it was designed by Johann Gottfried Schadow. When Napoleon’s army defeated Berlin in 1806, the French Emperor had taken the Quadrigato Paris as a war gift and a sign of his victory. But later in In 1814, the Quadriga was returned to Berlin where it once again established at the Brandenburg Gate.
In 1946, due to war Germany and Berlin divided then it was in the Soviet sector. In 1961, the Berlin Wall went up then Gate acted as a separation zone. When the Wall dropped, 100,000 people assembled there for the Brandenburg Gate’s official opening on 22 December 1989. Then afterwards, crowds started gathering at gate to celebrate New Year’s Eve every year. Today, the Brandenburg Gate has become the most important landmark of Germany which symbolises a reunited Berlin.
Architecture of the Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate faces Pariser Platz, regarded as one of the city’s most attractive squares. It was designed by architect Carl Gotthard Langhans back in 1791 and commissioned by Friedrich Wilhelm. The gate is 26 metres high, 65.5 metres long and 11 metres deep, and supported by two rows of six Doric columns and there are five walkways through the gate. By the end of the Second World War, the buildings around this historical square were in ruins.
Later in In 1990s, the reconstruction started after German reunification, and the building was further renovated with stylish townhouses, US embassies and the luxurious five-star Hotel Adlon.
The design of the Brandenburg Gate was inspired by the Acropolis in Athens. It was the grand entrance to the boulevard Unter den Linden which led to the palace of the Prussian monarchs.
Other Facts:
- Brandenburg Gate was renovated by Berlin’s Foundation for the Protection of Monument till 2002.
- In 2006, around 130,000 people gathered at the Gate following the attacks on an Orlando gay club to express their resentment. The Gate was lit up in rainbow colours in the memory of 49 victims.
- The luxurious Adlon Hotel, the French and the US embassies are those the buildings which surround the Gate, in its prime location at Pariser Platz.
- Nearly 1 million people gather at the here every year for New Year Eve celebration with complete with music and fireworks.
It was said that gate was heavily damaged in the Second World War but later with every passing year it was renovated. Today, Brandenburg Gate is popular all over the world as the symbol of freedom, peace, tolerance and universalism. Visiting the Brandenburg Gate at night is a special treat, and undoubtedly one of the top free things to do in Berlin.
Also Read: Germany – The Land With Mystical Castles And Majestic Cars
