BRANDENBURGER TOR - BRANDENBURG GATE

This door is the symbol of Berlin and still retains its majesty. It is the only survivor of the 14 Berlin Gates (from the time when Berlin still had a fortification wall) and is probably the city's best-known monument. It was built between 1788 and 1791 on the model of the Athens propylaea in a neoclassical style, according to the plans of the architect Carl Langhans, and in honour of King Frederick William II of Prussia. It is surmounted by a sculpture of the goddess of Victory, Niké, mounted on a chariot drawn by four horses, the work of K. F. Schinkel. The Brandenburg Gate was reserved exclusively for the passage of the German emperors, although Napoleon passed through it when he marched on Prussia during his extensive European military campaigns. Moreover, taking advantage of his victory, the Emperor had the quadriga covering the gate removed and brought back to Paris as a trophy. His fall and that of his empire, a few years later, will be an opportunity for Prussia to recover its property. The square, where the Brandenburg Gate is located, is then renamed Pariser Platz in reference to the Treaty of Paris, ending the reign of Napoleon.

During the Second World War, the gate suffered extensive damage, particularly during the Battle of Berlin, but was restored in 1957. It was a symbol of the division of the two Germanies until 1989, because of its position in the middle of no-man's-land, which was guarded by East German soldiers. Today it is a symbol of reunification, just like the tens of thousands of people who came together in 1989 to put pressure on the Wall and thus pierce the Iron Curtain. The historical images on the panels next to the gate help to trace the monument's uncharted destiny. The aerial images from 1945 are staggering, as are the images of the Wall and the barbed wire.

After the fall of the Wall, the Pariser Platz was completely rebuilt and the embassies of the great countries friends of Germany found their place there: United States, France... The embassy of the United Kingdom is not far away either. This square has become a favourite venue for events of all kinds, whether political or artistic. Rich in its historical heritage, the place is also often the scene of official visits by foreign leaders. On the other side, the square is called Platz des 18. März in reference to the revolution of 1848.