Standing in the middle of the Großer Stern, the large roundabout in the [Tiergarten](/fr/attractions/tiergarten-berlin), the Victory Column (Siegessäule) celebrates Prussia's victories over Denmark, Austria and France between 1864 and 1871. Designed by Johann Heinrich Strack, it was first built from 1864 to 1873 on today's Platz der Republik, in front of the Reichstag. In 1938-1939 the Nazis moved it about 1.6 km west to the Großer Stern and added a fourth drum: it now stands nearly 70 metres tall. A spiral staircase of 285 steps leads to a viewing platform just below the gilded statue of Victoria. There is a charge for the climb, payable in cash only.
Highlights
The "Goldelse"
The gilded bronze Victoria crowning the column is the work of sculptor Friedrich Drake. It is 8.3 metres tall and weighs 35 tonnes. She carries a laurel wreath, a military standard with an Iron Cross and wears a helmet decorated with an eagle. Berliners nickname her "Goldelse".
The view from the platform
At a height of about 51 metres, the platform offers a full panorama over the Tiergarten and the city. To the east, Straße des 17. Juni runs dead straight to the [Brandenburg Gate](/fr/attractions/porte-de-brandebourg), with the TV Tower and the cathedral on the horizon. To the north, you can see Bellevue Palace, the residence of the Federal President.
The colonnade and the mosaic
At the foot of the shaft, a circular colonnade holds a large mosaic after Anton von Werner, devoted to the founding of the German Empire. On the shaft, gilded cannon barrels recall the three wars the column commemorates.
The tunnels and entrance pavilions
You cannot cross the roundabout on foot: four pedestrian tunnels run beneath the road. They are reached through neoclassical-style pavilions built in the early 1940s around the edge of the square.
Infos pratiques
Tips
Prices as checked in October 2026: €4.50 per adult, €3.50 reduced, cash only, at the ticket desk at the foot of the column. There is no lift and there are no toilets: the climb is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for people with reduced mobility or a weak constitution. The steps, narrow on the inner side, call for some care; take your time and let people coming down pass. Combine the climb with a walk in the Tiergarten, especially towards the Neuer See, about ten minutes away on foot.
How to get there
Siegessäule, Großer Stern 1, Berlin, in the middle of the Tiergarten. Buses 100, 106 and 187: Großer Stern stop, about 100 metres away. Buses 100 and 187: Schloss Bellevue stop, about 300 metres away. S-Bahn S3, S5, S7 and S9: Bellevue or Tiergarten stations, then about ten minutes on foot through the park. To reach the column, take one of the pedestrian tunnels from the edge of the roundabout.
Opening hours
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