Brandenburger Tor is the real heart of Berlin, that’s why you cannot skip it

If you are planning a trip to Berlin, Brandenburger Tor is a must. You cannot skip it for many different reasons. In this article, we will try to explain why

Brandenburger Tor is the core of the German capital. In fact, it represents the symbol of the reunified Germany, after all the political, economic and social problems Germany faced after the Second World War. In 1961, Brandenburger Tor was located inside the famous “no man’s land”, that is the patch of land which has been conceived to split East Berlin and West Berlin.

Brandenburger Tor was inagurated in 1791 and symbolizes the victory of Peace over War. For the structure, the Acropolis of Athens had been taken into consideration as an inspiration. And this is exactly why, a Bronze Quadriga has been placed right on the top of the monument, as it represents the Greek goddess Eirene (designed by Johann Gottfried Shadow), used as a symbol of the Prussian victories. The position of the statue was changed by GDR in the opposite direction, and since then it has been no longer moved. 

The monument is characterized by a neoclassical architecture and it is 26 meters high. You can enter it through 5 different gates. In the past, the main entrance was reserved to the royal family, and of course “very normal people” could use only the 4 ones left. The two lateral structures, built in 1868 by the architect Johann Heinrich Strack, were used as checkpoints; now, you can find two sculptures, representing Mars and Minerva.

The Brandenburg Gate has gone through different historical events, from the triumphant March of Napoleon to the visit of Kennedy, and not to mention the Nazis parades and Hitler’s speeches, until the Fall of the Wall in 1989.

Photo: Debora Fieni and Raman Kaur