Brandenburg Gate: Useful Information
We are going to tell you some aspects that you should know about the great symbol of Berlin. We explain how to get to the Brandenburg Gate, a bit of its history and also some curious facts. Thus, when you have it in front of you, you can enjoy it to the fullest.
Where is the Brandenburg gate
It couldn’t be otherwise, the monument stands in the very heart of Berlin. It is located in the Plaza de Paris, a step away from the Reichstag.
Getting there is as simple as taking the metro or train and getting off at the station that bears the monument’s name, or taking bus line 100. Another way to get there is by taking a walk along the famous Unter den Linden avenue or through the Tiergarten, depending on which part of the city you are departing from.
The Brandenburg Gate: symbol of the city
In case this is your first time visiting Berlin, chances are you will be speechless. A lot of beauty in a monument that already impresses on television or in the cinema. But it really has nothing to do with the great feeling of seeing it live and direct.
Something to keep in mind is that we are not just talking about an architectural work. This monument has witnessed a complicated time in the history of Europe. A few decades of a multitude of political changes, wars, struggles, reunifications, etc.
The chariot
The monument has been crowned since 1795. It represents the goddess of Victory, although the one that can be seen today is a reproduction. The original was badly damaged during the bombings of World War II.
A sculptural ensemble that was not always there, since Napoleon transferred it to Paris as one more trophy of his victories against the Prussian army. After the fall of the Napoleonic Empire, he returned to Berlin.
Anecdotes from the Brandenburg gate
One of the best known anecdotes is that in the days of the Prussian monarchy no one could cross this door through its central arch, except the royal family. After the First World War, it was no longer just a passage for kings.
On the other hand, as we anticipated, in World War II, the Brandenburg Gate suffered several attacks. Although seriously damaged, it remained almost the only monument standing in the Plaza de Paris when the armed conflict ended.
As soon as it was rebuilt by the allied countries, it was decided to dismantle the iron cross and the eagle from the chariot. Decision that was made considering that it was symbolism belonging to the German army. Shortly after the Berlin Wall fell, they were replaced.
The door was to the east
Not long after, the Berlin Wall was built. The gate was located in the eastern part of the city, that is, within the communist zone. The consequence was that the monument was seen as a symbol of the country’s separation.
Everything changed after the fall of the Wall. The door happened to become just the opposite. Today it is a symbol of that long-awaited reunification of Germany and of what the country is today.
Beyond the Brandenburg Gate
Once you have enjoyed this monument, you should continue to learn the history of the city by taking a tour of the surroundings. We anticipated that the Reichstag is very close. Be sure to visit its glass dome, it is spectacular.
And nearby is also the Holocaust Monument. More than 2,700 concrete blocks of different heights remember all the victims of the Nazi regime. In addition, in one of the rooms of its information center you can learn everything about one of the darkest episodes in European history.
As you can see, a visit to the Brandenburg Gate and its surroundings allows you to take a journey through the history of Berlin in the last two centuries, with its lights and shadows. You should not miss it.
