The chariot on top of the Gate
The Quadriga is a sculpture of a chariot with four horses. A goddess drives it, and it stands on the roof of the Brandenburg Gate. The sculptor was Johann Gottfried Schadow, and the group was put up in 1793. It is the best known part of the Gate, and the figure most visitors point at from Pariser Platz.
You look at the Quadriga from below, from the square. The history of the Gate explains the building itself.
The figure and her symbols
Who the goddess is, and what she holds.
Eirene or Victoria
The goddess is described in two ways. Some texts call her Eirene, the goddess of peace. Others call her Victoria, a goddess of victory who brings peace. Both names are in use, and no single one is the settled original meaning, so you will meet each of them in books and on tours.
The Iron Cross and the eagle
The goddess today carries an Iron Cross inside an oak wreath, with the Prussian eagle. A sculpture database dates these additions after designs by Schinkel to 1814 and 1816.
Taken to Paris and returned
In 1806 the Quadriga was taken to Paris as war booty. In 1814 it returned to Berlin. The history page places this in the longer timeline of the Gate.
Berlin tours with a stop at the Gate
Walking and bike tours with live prices and availability. Check the meeting point, because most tours do not start at the Gate itself.
War damage and the copy of 1958
What happened in 1945, and what stands there now.
In 1945 the Quadriga was almost completely destroyed. One original horse head survived. A copy of the group was put up again in 1958. The Humboldt Forum, which showed the horse head in an exhibition in 2023, names this copy a bronze copy. A sculpture database describes it instead as copper sheet work, hammered by hand. Both descriptions are in circulation, so avoid repeating that it was simply recast in bronze.
The same database dates the end of a restoration to 1991, when the eagle and the cross returned. Details of the reconstruction are told differently in different places. If you want to see the surviving horse head, check whether it is currently on display before you plan a trip around it.
Dates and descriptions you may meet
The same chariot, described differently.
| Question | One version | Another version |
|---|---|---|
| Year it was set up | 1793 | 1794 in one object text |
| Who is the goddess | Eirene, goddess of peace | Victoria, bringer of peace and victory |
| The copy of 1958 | Bronze copy | Copper sheet work |
Seeing the Quadriga in autumn 2026
The works at the Gate affect the view.
The operator of the Gate announced works that began with the site setup on 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, so you look at the Quadriga from the square. Do not rely on a lit view of the Quadriga in this period, and check the current situation before you go.
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 and is valid for 120 minutes in one direction. The Pariser Platz page describes what surrounds the square.
What to look at from the square
A short checklist for a stop of a few minutes.
The horses and the driver
Four horses pull the chariot, and the goddess stands at the front. Remember that the horses you see belong to the copy of 1958.
The symbols on the goddess
Look for the Iron Cross in the oak wreath and the Prussian eagle. These are the additions dated to 1814 and 1816.
The Gate beneath
The Gate has five passages and six columns each on the east and west sides. It is an open public monument without an entrance ticket, and paid tours do not decide whether you can look at it.
Nearby pages
Where to go after looking up.
Quadriga: frequently asked questions
Who made the Quadriga?
The sculptor Johann Gottfried Schadow made it. It was set up on the Gate in 1793, although one object text gives 1794.
Is the goddess Victoria or Eirene?
Both names are used. Eirene is the goddess of peace, and Victoria is a goddess of victory who brings peace. This page does not pick one as the single original meaning.
Why was the Quadriga in Paris?
It was taken there as war booty in 1806 and returned to Berlin in 1814.
Is the Quadriga original?
It was almost completely destroyed in 1945. One original horse head survived. The group on the Gate today is a copy put up in 1958, which is described as bronze in one place and as copper sheet work in another.
What is the Iron Cross on the Quadriga?
The goddess carries an Iron Cross inside an oak wreath, with the Prussian eagle. A database dates the additions to 1814 and 1816, after designs by Schinkel.
Is the Quadriga lit in autumn 2026?
The operator announced that the usual night lighting is off from 26 October 2026 until probably early December.