Siegestor, Munich

The triple-arched Siegestor was constructed in 1843-52 based on designs by Friedrich von Gärtner. Although it is primarily a monument to the Bavarian army and its success in the Napoleonic war of liberation, it should be considered from a different perspective these days. The gate was badly damaged in the Second World War and restored with the following inscription by Wilhelm Hausenstein: "Dedicated to victory, destroyed by war and a reminder to us all". The proportions of the arch resemble the Constantine Gate in Rome, on which it was modeled. The top of the arch is decorated with bronze figures depicting Bavaria on a chariot being led by four lions. The Siegestor marks the northern end of Ludwigstraße and the start of Schwabing, one of the city's most popular nightlife hotspots.