description Brandenburg Gate (Berlin) Overview
The Brandenburg Gate is an 18th-century neoclassical monument in central Berlin, designed by Carl Gotthard Langhans and completed in 1791 for King Frederick William II of Prussia. Modeled on the Propylaea of the Athenian Acropolis and crowned by Johann Gottfried Schadow's Quadriga, it later stood beside the Berlin Wall and became a prominent symbol of German reunification.
help Brandenburg Gate (Berlin) FAQ
Why was the Brandenburg Gate built?
King Frederick William II of Prussia commissioned it as a monumental entrance to Berlin and a symbol of peace. Carl Gotthard Langhans designed the neoclassical gate, which was completed in 1791.
What is the sculpture on top of the Brandenburg Gate?
The crowning sculpture is Johann Gottfried Schadow's Quadriga, showing a chariot drawn by four horses. Napoleon carried it to Paris after defeating Prussia, but it was returned to Berlin in 1814.
Was the Brandenburg Gate part of the Berlin Wall?
The gate was not physically built into the Berlin Wall, but it stood inside the restricted border zone beside it. Its reopening in December 1989 consequently became a powerful symbol of German reunification.
Can visitors walk through the Brandenburg Gate?
Yes, the gate and the surrounding Pariser Platz are accessible to pedestrians without an admission fee. It stands near the Reichstag and at the eastern end of the Tiergarten in central Berlin.
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