Brandenburg Gate: the story on HearLore

Evolution From Baroque To Neoclassicism

Berlin was a small walled city within a star fort during the time of King Frederick William I who reigned from 1688. Several named gates existed including Spandauer Tor, St. Georgen Tor, Stralower Tor, Cöpenicker Tor, Neues Tor, and Leipziger Tor. Relative peace and religious tolerance facilitated the growth of the city after the Thirty Years' War. A first gate was built around 1670 consisting of a breach through the raised wall and a drawbridge over the dug moat. The expansion of Dorotheenstadt to the west led to construction of the Berlin Customs Wall in 1734. This wall enclosed the old fortified city and many suburbs. A predecessor of today's Brandenburg Gate was built by Court Architect Philipp Gerlach as a city gate on the road to Brandenburg an der Havel. The gate system consisted of two Baroque pylons decorated with pilasters and trophies. Gate wings were attached to these pylons. Simple passages for pedestrians existed in the wall decorated with ornamental vases. Frederick William II came to the throne in 1786 when he was in his early forties. He determined to establish Berlin as a cultural centre despite military triumphs making Prussia a power that could not be ignored. Berlin lacked monuments and cultural life compared to Vienna, Paris or London. His uncle Frederick the Great had tastes typical of his generation drawing on French classicism and English Palladianism. The Brandenburg Gate in Potsdam from 1770 to 1771 was a much smaller monument poised between Rococo and Roman-influenced Neoclassical architecture. Frederick William II summoned new German architects including Carl Gotthard Langhans from Breslau. Langhans was appointed head court architect in 1788. Though he designed many Neoclassical buildings this was his first significant work in Greek style. It remained his last major one before designing a small neo-Gothic building for New Garden in Potsdam by 1792. The gate became the first element of a new Athens on the river Spree project by Langhans. The gate was originally called the Peace Gate because the military victory it celebrated was almost fatality-free. Frederick William II restored his brother-in-law to power in the Netherlands. The French Revolution began while construction was underway. Only a few years after completion the Batavian Revolution sent the Dutch royal couple into exile in 1795.

Reunification And Modern Political Ceremonies

When Revolutions of 1989 occurred and wall demolished gate symbolized freedom and desire to unify city of Berlin. Thousands gathered at wall to celebrate its fall on the 9th of November 1989. On the 22nd of December 1989 Brandenburg Gate border crossing reopened when Helmut Kohl walked through greeted by Hans Modrow. Demolition of rest of wall around area took place following year. In 1990 quadriga removed from gate as part renovation work carried out by East German authorities following fall of wall in November 1989. Germany officially reunified in October 1990. Brandenburg Gate privately refurbished on the 21st of December 2000 at cost of €6 million. It opened again on the 3rd of October 2002 following extensive refurbishment for 12th anniversary of German reunification. Berlin office of Kardorff Ingenieure developed new lighting concept emphasizing gate as most important building on Pariser Platz. Main venue became 20th-anniversary celebrations of fall of Berlin Wall or Festival of Freedom evening of the 9th of November 2009. Over 1000 colourfully designed foam domino tiles each over tall lined up along route of former wall through city centre. Domino wall toppled in stages converging here. Brandenburg Gate now closed to vehicle traffic and much of Pariser Platz turned into cobblestone pedestrian zone. Gate along with broad Straße des 17. Juni avenue is one of large public areas where over million people gather to watch stage shows or party together. Team held victory rally in front of gate after winning 2014 FIFA World Cup. Hosted street events at 2009 IAAF World Championships in Athletics and repeated role in 2018 European Athletics Championships. Usual finish line of Berlin Marathon. U.S. President John F. Kennedy visited Brandenburg Gate in 1963. Soviets hung large red banners across it preventing him looking into East Berlin. West Berlin mayor Richard von Weizsäcker said German Question open as long as Brandenburg Gate closed during 1980s. On the 12th of June 1987 Ronald Reagan spoke to West Berlin populace demanding razing of Berlin Wall addressing Mikhail Gorbachev. Conductor Leonard Bernstein conducted Berlin Philharmonic in version of Ninth Symphony of Beethoven on the 25th of December 1989. Word Freude replaced with Freiheit celebrating fall of Wall and imminent reunification. Official ceremony marking reunification occurred 2, the 3rd of October 1990. Black-red-gold flag raised over gate at stroke of midnight on the 3rd of October. Bill Clinton spoke about peace in post-Cold War Europe on the 12th of July 1994. Angela Merkel walked through gate with Mikhail Gorbachev and Lech Wałęsa on the 9th of November 2009 for 20th anniversary of fall of Berlin Wall. Klaus Wowereit said shared responsibility to keep memory alive and pass on to coming generations. Christian Wulff added Freedom invincible at end. Barack Obama spoke about nuclear arms reduction and internet surveillance activities on the 19th of June 2013.

Who designed the Brandenburg Gate and when was it built?

Royal architect Carl Gotthard Langhans designed the Brandenburg Gate, which was constructed from 1788 to 1791 under orders of King Frederick William II of Prussia.

What is the significance of the quadriga sculpture on top of the Brandenburg Gate?

The bronze quadriga is a chariot drawn by four horses driven by a goddess figure originally named Peace but later renamed Victoria after 1814. Napoleon took this sculpture to Paris in 1806 before its return to Berlin following his defeat in 1814.

When did the Brandenburg Gate become closed due to the Berlin Wall construction?

Vehicles and pedestrians traveled freely through the gate until the day after construction began on the Berlin Wall on Barbed Wire Sunday the 13th of August 1961. The wall passed directly by the western side closing access throughout the period ending the 22nd of December 1989.

How many columns support the main structure of the Brandenburg Gate?

Twelve fluted Doric columns support the gate with six columns positioned on each side. These columns form five passageways for pedestrians and vehicles while walls between column pairs feature classicizing reliefs of the Labours of Hercules.

Who visited the Brandenburg Gate during major historical events in the 20th century?

U.S. President John F. Kennedy visited the site in 1963 while Ronald Reagan spoke there on the 12th of June 1987 demanding the razing of the Berlin Wall. Angela Merkel walked through the gate with Mikhail Gorbachev and Lech Wałęsa on the 9th of November 2009 for the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Brandenburg Gate.

Evolution From Baroque To Neoclassicism

Napoleonic Wars And Symbolic Shifts

Nazi Era And World War II Damage

Cold War Division And The Berlin Wall