Brandenburg Gate

The Brandenburg Gate is an 18th-century neoclassical triumphal gate in central Berlin, completed in 1791 and designed by Carl Gotthard Langhans. It has served as a prominent city landmark and symbol of German history.

The gate features a colonnaded façade with twelve Doric columns forming five passageways and is crowned by the Quadriga, a chariot sculpture by Johann Gottfried Schadow. It stands at Pariser Platz at the western end of Unter den Linden and marks the boundary between the central Mitte district and the Tiergarten.

Commissioned by King Frederick William II of Prussia and built between 1788 and 1791, the gate has been altered and restored several times, sustaining damage in World War II and undergoing major restoration after German reunification. Today it is a frequent meeting point and focal point for civic events and commemorations.

The monument sits at Pariser Platz in central Berlin, immediately east of the Tiergarten and within walking distance of the Reichstag and Unter den Linden boulevard.

• Viewing points: Best views are from Pariser Platz and Unter den Linden where the full elevation, the twelve Doric columns and the Quadriga sculpture can be seen; the plaza is pedestrianized and commonly used for public gatherings.
• Public access: The monument is open to the public at street level around the clock, though access to the central passageways is pedestrian only and subject to temporary closures for events or security.