A city gate that became a symbol
The Brandenburg Gate is a neoclassical gate at Pariser Platz in Berlin-Mitte. It is the preserved historic gate of the old city. It has five passages and six columns each on its east and west sides.
Carl Gotthard Langhans designed it for King Friedrich Wilhelm II. The model was the Propylaea, the gateway to the Acropolis in Athens. The Berlin city museum dates the construction to 1788 to 1791. The Berlin monument database gives 1788 to 1791 in its heading and 1789 to 1791 in its description of the new building, so you will see both ranges in print.
This guide is independent. It is not run by the city, a museum or any operator, and it does not sell tickets itself.
From building to Napoleon
The first two decades of the Gate.
1788 to 1791: the building
Langhans took the Athenian Propylaea as his example. The result is a classical stone gate with a colonnade on both sides.
1793: the Quadriga arrives
The sculptor Johann Gottfried Schadow made the chariot with four horses that crowns the Gate. It was added in 1793. One catalogue entry gives 1794 in its object text, so the year may differ slightly in older books. The Quadriga page has the full story of the figure.
1806 and 1814: Paris and back
In 1806 the Quadriga was taken to Paris as war booty. It returned to Berlin in 1814. The Iron Cross in an oak wreath, with the Prussian eagle, was added to the chariot later; a database dates these additions after Schinkel to 1814 and 1816.
Berlin tours that pass the Gate
Walking, bike and sightseeing tours with live prices and availability. Meeting points differ, so check where each one starts.
Timeline at a glance
The main dates, in order.
| Year | Event | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1788 to 1791 | Construction by Langhans | One record gives 1789 to 1791 |
| 1793 | Quadriga installed | Schadow, four horses |
| 1806 | Quadriga taken to Paris | War booty under Napoleon |
| 1814 | Quadriga returns to Berlin | – |
| 1961 | Wall built | Gate lies in a restricted border zone |
| 9 November 1989 | The border opens | A different event from the Gate reopening |
| 22 December 1989 | The Gate reopens | – |
| 2002 | Renovation completed | Reported at the time |
| 2026 | Lighting works | Night lighting off from 26 October |
Division and reopening
Two dates in 1989 that people often mix up.
After the Wall was built in 1961, the Gate stood in a border area that ordinary people could not enter. For decades it was a landmark you could look at, but not walk through.
The border opened on 9 November 1989. The Gate itself was opened again on 22 December 1989. These are two separate events. The Foundation Berliner Mauer treats the Wall and its border regime as the period from 1961 to 1989. The fall of the Wall and the later state unification of Germany are also not the same thing, so this page keeps them apart.
To see where the Wall stood and how people died trying to cross it, read our Berlin Wall guide. The Checkpoint Charlie page covers the former Allied control point on Friedrichstraße.
Renovation and the work in autumn 2026
What was done, and what is happening now.
The renovation of 2002
A trade publication reported on 2 October 2002 that the renovation had ended and that a ceremony was planned for 3 October 2002. The work covered structural stability, the foundation and stone cleaning. This is a historical report, not a description of the Gate today.
New LED lighting
The current project replaces lighting technology from 2002 with LED. It is not a new full renovation of the stone. The operator gives the energy saving as about 40 percent in a news item and as 37 percent on its project page.
What it means for a visit
According to the operator, the site was set up from 20 October 2026. The usual night lighting is off from 26 October 2026 until probably early December. The outer passages are closed during the works, and the middle passage can be used. Do not plan a night photo of the lit Gate in this period, and check the current situation before you go.
Visiting the Gate
The practical side of a stop here.
The Gate is a public monument outdoors, and you need no ticket to see it. Under normal conditions you can reach it at any hour, although no round-the-clock access to every passage is promised. Paid tours are a separate matter: they do not decide whether you can stand at the Gate.
The closest station is Brandenburger Tor, on the S1, S2, S25, S26 and U5. A single ticket for Berlin AB costs €4.00 in 2026, or €2.50 reduced for children aged 6 to 14, and is valid for 120 minutes in one direction. Parking at the Gate is not offered, so rail is the easier option. For the square in front of it, see the Pariser Platz page, and for the boulevard that starts here, Unter den Linden.
Continue your visit
Pages that follow the story.
The Quadriga
The chariot on top: sculptor, war damage and the horse head that survived.
The Berlin Wall
Bernauer Straße, the East Side Gallery and the Wall trail.
Pariser Platz
The square east of the Gate, with the academy and the embassies.
Reichstag dome
Free dome visits with registration, and the closure dates in October.
Brandenburg Gate history: frequently asked questions
When was the Brandenburg Gate built?
Between 1788 and 1791, designed by Carl Gotthard Langhans for Friedrich Wilhelm II. One record dates the new building to 1789 to 1791, so you may see both ranges.
Who designed the Gate and what was the model?
Carl Gotthard Langhans. His model was the Propylaea, the monumental entrance to the Acropolis in Athens.
Why was the Quadriga taken to Paris?
It was taken in 1806 as war booty under Napoleon and came back to Berlin in 1814.
When did the Gate open again after the division?
On 22 December 1989. The border had already opened on 9 November 1989, which is a different event.
Can I walk through the Gate today?
It is an open public monument without an entrance ticket. During the works that began on 20 October 2026, the outer passages are closed and the middle one is usable. Check the current situation before you go.
Is the Gate lit at night in autumn 2026?
The operator announced that the usual night lighting is off from 26 October 2026 until probably early December, while the LED installation is under way.