Brandenburg Gate in Berlin

For a long time, only the Emperor and his family were allowed to pass through the central archway of the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor), one of the must-see attractions in Berlin. Everyone else was denied entry, indicating the symbolic value this gate has always held for Germans. Essentially, since its construction, the Brandenburg Gate has been a witness and key player in the most significant events of German history. These events have almost always been tragic, rarely joyous.

Fortunately, today, the Brandenburg Gate is a serene backdrop for tourist photographs, a gathering place for year-end celebrations, and, when it happens, for victories of the German national soccer team.

Like many other "triumphal arches," the Brandenburg Gate was built as a symbol of the glory of the German nation. The architect Langhans, who was commissioned to design it, drew inspiration from the temples of Athens: the gate was meant, symbolically, to usher in the winds of democracy to Berlin.

Atop the gate was placed a quadriga representing the goddess of victory with four horses. Napoleon admired the work so much that when he conquered Prussia in 1807, he took it as a trophy to France. Only in 1814, with the defeat of the French Emperor, was the Quadriga returned to the gate.

The quadriga atop the Brandenburg Gate was to be called the "Chariot of Peace" but, in reality, the gate has always been a symbol associated with wars and militarism. In 1933, after gaining power, Hitler organized a torchlight ceremony at the gate, transforming it into an exclusive Nazi site. When Berlin was liberated by the Soviet Red Army, the flag featuring the hammer and sickle remained hoisted until 1953 when a demonstration by Russian workers took it down.

With the construction of the Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg Gate remained in a "no man's land" between the two sectors of the city for many decades. Only in 1989, with the fall of the wall, did the Gate regain its status as a symbol of freedom and peace. Over a million people crossed it to move from east to west.

Since then, the Prussian Cross and Eagle have returned to decorate the Quadriga, which is not the original: destroyed by bombs in World War II, it was recast in 1953 but without the Prussian symbols.

Today, the Brandenburg Gate houses a tourist office and the "Room of Silence," where people can gather for meditation.

Pariser Platz, the square in front of the Brandenburg Gate, was completely destroyed during World War II. With the construction of the wall, it remained empty and desolate for many decades, monitored only by the Vopos, the armed Soviet guards.

After the fall of the wall, the Berlin administration commissioned several world-renowned architects to redesign the square while respecting its original structure. On either side of the gate, the two twin buildings were reconstructed, and all around were embassies, bank headquarters, and other tall buildings. All of this was perhaps done a bit hurriedly. But this has been a constant in Berlin's recent history.