Siegessäule

Victory Column in Tiergarten: Observation Deck at 51 Meters

The Victory Column stands on the central island of the Großer Stern, where the main axes of the Tiergarten intersect. It was erected between 1864 and 1873 based on a design by Heinrich Strack, originally on Königsplatz in front of the Reichstag. Only in 1938 and 1939 was the monument moved approximately 1.6 kilometers west to its current location. At the very top stands the gilded Victoria, 8.3 meters high and weighing 35 tons, known in Berlin as “Goldelse” (Golden Lizzie) since time immemorial. The reason for its construction was the Prussian victory in the Danish-Prussian War of 1864; two more victories were added during the construction period and incorporated into the column’s ornamentation. The path to the platform leads via a narrow spiral staircase with 285 steps; there is no elevator, meaning the structure is not barrier-free. From the platform, at an approximate height of 51 meters, one stands directly beneath the figure and looks out over the Tiergarten towards Bellevue Palace, the government district, the Brandenburg Gate, and further on to the TV Tower and Potsdamer Platz.

Admission, Directions, and Exhibition at the Victory Column

Admission is among the cheapest in the city: adults pay 4.50 Euros, while reduced admission costs 3.50 Euros. It is important to have cash, as tickets are only available at the on-site ticket office and only for cash payment. Access to the central island is not via the roadway, but through four pedestrian tunnels under the roundabout, which are worth seeing themselves. Public transport brings you to the Großer Stern bus stop, served by lines 100, 106, and 187. Additionally, an exhibition in the base of the structure provides information about the history of the Victory Column and its figure, allowing the ascent to be combined well with half an hour of city history. Because there are only trees around in the Tiergarten and no high-rise building obstructs the view, the panorama remains unobstructed on all sides. It is most beautiful on a clear morning or late afternoon when the light falls softly over the treetops.