The triumphal arch in Munich or Victory gate (German name: München Siegestor English Victory Gate) is one of the symbols and sights of the city.
Victory gate - arc de Triomphe classic, which rises in the centre of the city, North of the historic square of Odeonsplatz (Odeonsplatz), in the place where the street ludwigstraße (Ludwigstraße) and Leopoldstrasse (Leopoldstraße).
Munich triumphal arch was created and erected by order of king Ludwig I, the Bavarian in the period from 1843 to 1852 by the German architect Friedrich von Gaertner, and after his death by his pupil Edward Metzger.
The gate was originally dedicated to the glory of the Bavarian army. Bavarian troops entered the festively decorated gate after victory in the Franco-German war.
During world war II the gate sustained major damage and they wanted to destroy. But later they were reconstructed and restored. Also at the gate there was a new inscription: "Dedicated to victory, destroyed by war, calling for peace".
Today the triumphal arch is a monument and reminder of the world as well as unconditional and silent witness to a rich and sometimes difficult history of the city and the country.
Powerful in its structure, the monument has three-arch span: one large Central and two side - smaller. Door width is 24 meters, height - 21 meters, and the depth is 12 meters.
The arch is crowned with a 22-ton bronze sculpture, consisting of the statue of Bavaria, seated on a chariot drawn by four lions (four lions / lion-quadriga). Bavaria was created by Friedrich Brugger, lions - Johann von Halligan. The chariot is directed to the North and out of the city, where the 19th century was all fields and meadows. Bavaria looks forward to the return of the Bavarian army in accordance with the dedication, as evidenced by the inscription under the sculpture on the North side of the gate, which reads: "Bavarian army" ("Dem Bayerischen heere").
On the southern and Northern sides of the arch are four columns. Three of the columns on the North side is crowned by the statue.
On the walls, on all sides, gates set the reliefs. In the lower series of reliefs depict war scenes, such as battles between the horsemen and soldiers. In the higher terrain in the form of medallions, located on the North and side sides of the gate depicted typical scenes from the Bavarian areas.
South side of the Munich gate of Victory, facing towards the old town, looks more modest (compared to the North side). There are four columns, two relief depicting the fighting and the inscription: "Dedicated to victory, destroyed by war, calling for peace" ("Dem Sieg geweiht, vom Krieg zerstört, zum Frieden mahnend").
The triumphal arch in Munich especially attracts attention in the dark evening and night when it is lit.
