Introduction
In case you chosen Berlin as your travel destination, one of the main, historical sights you shouldn’t miss is “Siegessäule” or, as it’s translated into English, the Victory Column. This historical landmark is situated in the central business district of Berlin and apart from the great scenery it also gives a historical background and the culture of Germany. In this blog post about the Siegessäule, we’ll cover its importance, what it looks like, and what to do around it, so you know everything you need to know to get the most out of your visit.
History and Significance
Siegessäule was created in the later part of nineteenth century after 3 key victories, consist of the Danish-Prussian War, Austro-Prussian War and Franco-Prussian War. It was created by Germans Heinrich Strack and the main structure of the monument is nearly 67 meters tall.
Constructed at the first place, at the site of Reichstag building, Siegessäule was shifted to its present position within Tiergarten park of Berlin in 1938. Since time incep- tion, it has grown to symbolize German unity and freedom and is visited frequently by tourists who have interest in history.
Architectural Beauty
First of all there are architectural merits of Siegessäule; the design is mesmerizing. The monument lies in sandstone and encodes sculptures and reliefs; the architectural imagery of the monument belongs to Neo-Classical and Neo-Renaissance styles. At the spine of this fragmentarial column through the spiral staircase one gets to observe the performance of the reliefs, which display key scenes from the wars that defined Germany.
Lukewarm at the top of the column is the statue of Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory, which offers more glamour to the whole building. With this, the statue has a right hand holding a laurel wreath, symbolizing victory and the left hand holding a Prussian eagle, symbolizing authority. It is an opinion that the aerial view of the statue, particularly from the round enclosure around the statue is amazing and boasts of unobstructed view of the skyline of Berlin.
Surrounding Attractions
There are several amazing places of interest close to the Siegessäule that will help you spend several hours during your trip:
The Brandenburg Gate: Also located within a walking distance from the monument this is a symbol of peace and unity for Berlin. Just walk around the Attraction site of Pariser Platz and get some good photographs.
The Tiergarten Park: Thanks to its large size, Tiergarten is among the most popular parks in Berlin regardless the hearsk of the city. You can hire a bicycle, or take a walk in the neighbourhood as a way of getting closer to nature.
The Berlin Victory Column Museum: Located at the base of the monument this museum provides more historical background as to why and how this Siegessäule monument was built. To learn more log on to the website and get more information on the Gallery , exhibits and artifacts of the Jo Daviess County Court House .
When at Siegessäule one has to devote considerable time to explore these additional sites that enrich your trip in Berlin.
Visiting Tips
To make the most of your visit to the Siegessäule, here are a few helpful tips:
Treading the park early in the morning as this is least as crowded as other times of the day.
Take shoes; for on reaching the observation deck you would have to take a spiral staircase with 285 steps.
Take camera to take pictures of the views from the top of the monument.
It may also be useful to find out its opening hours because they may frequently change depending on the season.
While the list provided above might seem a collection of oversimplified recommendations it’s important to remember that adhering to all of them would guarantee an enjoyable and rather uneventful stay at the Siegessäule.
Conclusion
Sylistically it is very impressive and interesting architectural structure, and at the same time it represents German history and unity. Visiting this symbol and its enchanting territory will help you to understand the history of this place. So if you are a history freak or more of an architecture aficionado, or liking extended vistas; the Siegessäule must remain high on your list of must-visit places to explore on your trip to Berlin.
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