Brandenburg Gate
Ideal: Ideal for first-time Berlin visitors and those who love history and city landmarks.
Completed in 1791 by Carl Gotthard Langhans, modeled on the entrance to the Athenian Acropolis. Napoleon took the quadriga on top to Paris in 1806; the sculpture was only returned in 1814. From 1961 to 1989 the gate stood in the Wall's death strip and could not be approached from either side; Reagan's 1987 'tear down this wall' speech was delivered in front of it. For Berliners it remains the gathering point for New Year's Eve and major celebrations.
Quick facts
- Built
- 1791
- Opened
- 6 August 1791
- Architect
- Carl Gotthard Langhans
- Commissioned by
- Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia
- Architectural style
- Greek Revival architecture
- Height
- 26 m
Facts from Wikidata, photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Did you know?
Why did the statue on the Brandenburg Gate spend years in Paris?
When Napoleon took Berlin in 1806 he had the four-horse chariot (the Quadriga) dismantled and shipped to Paris. It was recovered in 1814 when Prussian troops entered Paris, and reinstalled with an Iron Cross added to the goddess's staff.
How many passageways does the gate have, and who could use them?
There are five. Until 1918 the wide central passage was reserved for the royal family alone; ordinary Berliners had to use the narrower side openings.
What is the quiet room right next to the gate?
The north wing houses the Raum der Stille (Room of Silence), opened in 1994. It is free, non-religious and designed purely for sitting in silence — most visitors walk past without noticing it.
Why go?
- To see Berlin's most recognizable landmark
- To feel Germany's recent history and the symbol of reunification
- Because it connects easily to Unter den Linden, the Reichstag, and Tiergarten routes
Travel tip
It looks far more impressive with evening lighting; seeing it by day and by night is worthwhile.
