Germany is a country with a rich history and a lot of interesting sights to see which every year many tourists want. Among the notable places are the Brandenburg Gate. They are considered to be the most important architectural monuments of the country. It is unlikely that any of us do not know in which city the Brandenburg Gate is located. This is the capital of Germany - Berlin . This attraction is not just a beautiful architectural creation. For many Germans, the Brandenburg Gate is a special national symbol, a landmark in history. Why? - we will tell about this.
The symbol of Germany is the Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate is the only one of its kind. Once they were located on the outskirts of the city, but now territorially the gates are in the center. This is the last preserved city gate of Berlin. Their original name was the Gate of Peace. The architectural style of the monument is defined as the Berlin classicism. The prototype of the gate is the entrance to the Parthenon in Athens - Propylaea. The structure is a triumphal arch consisting of 12 Greek prehistoric columns, and also having six on each side. The height of the Brandenburg Gate is 26 m, the length is 66 m. The thickness of the monument is 11 m. Above the upper part of the building stands a copper statue of the Victory Goddess - Victoria, who rules a quadriga - a chariot drawn by four horses. In the annexes of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin there is a statue of the god of war of Mars and the goddess Minerva.
History of the Brandenburg Gate
The most recognizable architectural monument of the capital was built in 1789-1791. by the decree of King Frederick William II by Carl Gotttgart Langgans, a famous German architect. The main direction of his work was the application of the ancient Greek style, which found a successful reflection in his most famous project - the Brandenburg Gate. The decoration of the arch - the quadriga, ruled by the goddess Victoria, was created by Johann Gottfried Shadov.
After the conquest of Berlin, Napoleon liked the chariot so much that he gave the order to dismantle the quadriga from the Brandenburg Gate and transport it to Paris. True, after the victory over the army of Napoleon in 1814, the goddess of the Victory, together with the chariot, was returned to the rightful place. In addition, she was made Iron Cross, made by the hand of Friedrich Schinkel.
After coming to power, the Nazis used the Brandenburg Gate for their parade processions. Surprisingly, among the ruins and ruins of Berlin in 1945, this architectural monument was the only one left unscathed, with the exception of the goddess of victory. It is true that by 1958 the arch of the gate was again decorated with a copy of the quadriga with the goddess Victoria.
By 1961, with the escalation of the Berlin crisis, the country was divided into two parts: the eastern and the western. The Brandenburg Gate was on the border of the erected Berlin Wall, the passage through them was blocked. Thus, the gate became a symbol of the division of Germany into two camps - capitalist and socialist. However, on December 22, 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell, the Brandenburg Gate was opened. Chancellor of Germany Helmut Kohl
Where are the Brandenburg Gate?
If you have a desire to visit the most famous symbol of Germany when visiting Berlin, it will not hurt to know their location. There are the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin at Pariser Platz (Paris Square) 10117. You can get there by transport of the metropolitan S- and U-Bahn to Brandenburger Tor station, S1, 2, 25 and U55.