Right on the border between East and West Berlin at the Pariser Platz, the Brandenburger Gate was the symbol of the city's divide.

Pariser Platz, Berlin-Mitte
Official website

Right on the border between East and West Berlin at the Pariser Platz, the Brandenburger Gate was the symbol of the city's divide. Since the fall of the wall, it has become the symbol of a reunified Berlin. The desolate area that Pariser Platz once was, is now completely redeveloped and has regained most of its 19th century grandeur.

The Brandenburger gate was designed by Carl Gotthard. It was constructed between 1778 and 1791. The decorations, including bas scenes depicting Greek mythology took another 4 years to complete. The quadriga of victory crowning the gate was built in 1793 by Johann Gottfried Schadow. Originally it was a symbol of peace. During Berlin's occupation by France, in 1806 Napoleon ordered the quadriga to be taken to Paris. After the Battle of Waterloo, the quadriga was triumphantly taken back to Berlin, and it was turned into a symbol of victory.

Situated at the end of Unter den Linden, the 60m tall gate was part of a wall surrounding the city and was the main entrance to the city. It is the only gate that remains of this former city wall.

After the construction of the 1961 Berlin Wall which was built right next to the Brandenburger Tor, the Pariser Platz, on the East-Berlin side, became completely desolate. The gate symbolized Germany's division. With the fall of the wall in 1989, people flocked to the reopened Brandenburger Gate to celebrate.

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