Berlin Victory Column, Berlin, Guida per visitatori e cosa fare nei dintorni

The Berlin Victory Column (Siegessäule) is a tall monument topped by a gilded statue of the goddess Victoria, standing at the Großer Stern roundabout in the middle of Tiergarten park in Berlin. It was built in the 19th century to celebrate Prussian military victories, and today it is one of the city's best-known landmarks and a handy anchor for a walk through the park.

The story behind it

The column was planned to mark Prussia's victory over Denmark in the Second Schleswig War of 1864. Two further Prussian victories followed, over Austria and then over France, and these wars paved the way for the unification of Germany under Prussian leadership in 1871. The monument came to stand for all three, and its sections and the captured cannon barrels decorating it are tied to that story. It was inaugurated in 1873.

It did not always stand where it does now. The column first stood in front of the Reichstag, on today's Platz der Republik, and was moved to the Großer Stern in the late 1930s. During the move a fourth section was added, making it taller than the original. The bronze Victoria on top is nicknamed Goldelse by Berliners, roughly translated as Golden Lizzie. In 2008 Barack Obama, then a presidential candidate, gave a speech near the column, which drew a huge crowd to the park.

What to look for

• The golden Victoria at the top, holding a wreath, which glints in the sun and is visible from far along the park's avenues.
• The gilded cannon barrels arranged on the column's shaft, a reminder that the monument celebrates military triumphs.
• The different sections of the column, which show the monument's growth from three victories to its later, taller form.
• The wide avenues radiating from the roundabout, especially the long straight line of Straße des 17. Juni running towards the Brandenburg Gate.

Tips for your visit

• The column stands on a busy traffic circle, so use the pedestrian underpasses to reach it rather than trying to cross the road.
• Allow 20 to 30 minutes to look around the base, and more if you climb to the viewing platform. Check current opening hours and ticket details before you go.
• Morning or late afternoon light is kind to the gold statue, and the park is quieter earlier in the day.
• Tiergarten is all around you, so pair the visit with a stroll in the park or a walk along Straße des 17. Juni towards the Brandenburg Gate.

See it on a quest

The Victory Column is one stop on Berlin: Tiergarten District Highlights, a self-guided walk through the Tiergarten area. You reach the column on foot as part of a longer route, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever suits you, with no guide and no set departure time.