Royal Destination Brandenburg Gate in Berlin
One of the most famous destinations in Germany certainly
is the Brandenburg Gate (in German: Brandenburger Tor)
in Berlin.
This Brandenburg Gate not only has a nice neoclassical
architecture it also has a fantastic royal history.
Some royal history
The Brandenburg Gate was built on the orders of King
Frederick William II of Prussia after the (temporarily)
successful restoration of order during the early Batavian
Revolution in the Dutch Republic (nowadays The
Netherlands). It has been said that the people in the
Dutch Republic had to pay special taxes for the creation
of the Brandenburg Gate in Prussia.
The Gate was designed by Carl Gotthard Langhans and
built between 1788 and 1791, replacing the earlier simple
guardhouses which flanked the original gate in the
Customs Wall.
The Gate has twelve Doric columns, 6 to each side, forming
5 passageways. Citizens were allowed to use only the
outermost two on each side. For decades only the royal
family was allowed to pass through the central archway.
After the Prussian defeat at the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt in
1806, Napoleon Bonaparte was the first to use the
Brandenburg Gate for a triumphal procession.
When the Nazis gained power, they used the gate as a party
symbol. Luckily the gate survived World War II, although it
was badly damaged with holes in the columns from bullets and
nearby explosions.
After World War II, the governments of East Berlin and West
Berlin restored it in a joint effort. The holes were patched but
were visible for many years following the war.
On 14 August 1961, Brandenburg Gate border crossing was
closed. West Berliners gathered on the western side of the
gate to demonstrate against the Berlin Wall.
In 1963, U.S. President John F. Kennedy visited Berlin and
the Brandenburg Gate. The Soviets hung large red banners
across it to prevent him looking into East Berlin.
On 12 June 1987, U.S. President Ronald Reagan spoke to the
West Berlin populace at the Brandenburg Gate, demanding
the razing of the Berlin Wall.
During the Revolution of 1989, the wall was demolished and
the Brandenburg Gate symbolized the freedom and the desire
to unify the city of Berlin.
On 22 December 1989, the Brandenburg Gate border crossing
was reopened when Helmut Kohl, the West German chancellor
walked through to be greeted by Hans Modrow, the East German
Prime minister.
On 12 July 1994, U.S. President Bill Clinton spoke at the Gate
about peace in post-Cold War Europe.
On the evening of 9 November 2009, the Brandenburg Gate became
the main venue for the 20th. anniversary celebrations of the fall of
the Berlin Wall.
On 19 June 2013, U.S. President Barack Obama spoke at the Gate
about nuclear arms reduction and the recently revealed U.S.
internet surveillance activities.
A visit
I visited the Brandenburg Gate in 2013. It really is a must see due
to its architecture and due to its royal history.
When we (my husband and I) visited Berlin and the Brandenburg
Gate there was a running race.
is the Brandenburg Gate (in German: Brandenburger Tor)
in Berlin.
This Brandenburg Gate not only has a nice neoclassical
architecture it also has a fantastic royal history.
 |
| Brandenburg Gate in Berlin Germany own picture taken in 2013 |
Some royal history
The Brandenburg Gate was built on the orders of King
Frederick William II of Prussia after the (temporarily)
successful restoration of order during the early Batavian
Revolution in the Dutch Republic (nowadays The
Netherlands). It has been said that the people in the
Dutch Republic had to pay special taxes for the creation
of the Brandenburg Gate in Prussia.
Frederick William II of Prussia
Source picture: Wikipedia
The Gate was designed by Carl Gotthard Langhans and
built between 1788 and 1791, replacing the earlier simple
guardhouses which flanked the original gate in the
Customs Wall.
The Gate has twelve Doric columns, 6 to each side, forming
5 passageways. Citizens were allowed to use only the
outermost two on each side. For decades only the royal
family was allowed to pass through the central archway.
After the Prussian defeat at the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt in
1806, Napoleon Bonaparte was the first to use the
Brandenburg Gate for a triumphal procession.
Napoleon in Berlin
Source picture: Wikipedia
When the Nazis gained power, they used the gate as a party
symbol. Luckily the gate survived World War II, although it
was badly damaged with holes in the columns from bullets and
nearby explosions.
After World War II, the governments of East Berlin and West
Berlin restored it in a joint effort. The holes were patched but
were visible for many years following the war.
On 14 August 1961, Brandenburg Gate border crossing was
closed. West Berliners gathered on the western side of the
gate to demonstrate against the Berlin Wall.
In 1963, U.S. President John F. Kennedy visited Berlin and
the Brandenburg Gate. The Soviets hung large red banners
across it to prevent him looking into East Berlin.
On 12 June 1987, U.S. President Ronald Reagan spoke to the
West Berlin populace at the Brandenburg Gate, demanding
the razing of the Berlin Wall.
During the Revolution of 1989, the wall was demolished and
the Brandenburg Gate symbolized the freedom and the desire
to unify the city of Berlin.
On 22 December 1989, the Brandenburg Gate border crossing
was reopened when Helmut Kohl, the West German chancellor
walked through to be greeted by Hans Modrow, the East German
Prime minister.
On 12 July 1994, U.S. President Bill Clinton spoke at the Gate
about peace in post-Cold War Europe.
On the evening of 9 November 2009, the Brandenburg Gate became
the main venue for the 20th. anniversary celebrations of the fall of
the Berlin Wall.
On 19 June 2013, U.S. President Barack Obama spoke at the Gate
about nuclear arms reduction and the recently revealed U.S.
internet surveillance activities.
 |
| Brandenburg Gate in Berlin Germany own picture taken in 2013 |
A visit
I visited the Brandenburg Gate in 2013. It really is a must see due
to its architecture and due to its royal history.
When we (my husband and I) visited Berlin and the Brandenburg
Gate there was a running race.
 |
| Brandenburg Gate and the running race in Berlin Germany |
 |
| A small Brandenburg Gate in Kadewe Berlin |
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