Großer Stern, Square in Tiergarten district, Berlin, Germany.
Großer Stern is a large multi-lane spiral roundabout at the centre of Berlin's Tiergarten, where five avenues converge: Straße des 17. Juni, Altonaer Straße, Spreeweg, Helmut-Kohl-Allee and the axis toward the Brandenburg Gate. In its middle stands the Victory Column, raised by one column drum when the square was enlarged in 1938.
Around 1698 court hunter Hemmrich laid out the square as a hunting star (Jagdstern) for Elector Friedrich III. From 1742 Knobelsdorff reshaped it, and Peter Joseph Lenné rebuilt it as a formal plaza between 1833 and 1840. In 1938 it was greatly enlarged and the Victory Column was moved here from Königsplatz and raised by one drum; the surrounding monuments were inaugurated on 20 April 1939.
Berliners call the gilded Victoria on the column "Goldelse". The square has hosted the Love Parade final rallies between 1996 and 2003, the Live 8 concert in 2005 with around 100,000 spectators, and the 2006 World Cup fan mile, which drew up to 700,000 visitors a day. The Berlin Marathon has crossed it every September since 1987.
Four underground pedestrian tunnels with dedicated entrances allow visitors to safely reach the central area and avoid heavy traffic. The tunnels are clearly marked and offer the most practical route for walkers.
The square's layout dates to 1938, when it was enlarged and the Victory Column was moved here from Königsplatz in front of the Reichstag and raised by one drum for proportion. The surrounding statues of Bismarck, Roon and Moltke were unveiled on 20 April 1939.
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