Frankfurter Tor:
The History of Berlin's Famous Twin Towers
What is Frankfurter Tor?
Frankfurter Tor is a historic square in Berlin's Friedrichshain district, best known for its two iconic GDR-era towers.
It marks the point where Frankfurter Allee becomes Karl-Marx-Allee and is considered one of Germany's finest examples of Socialist Classicist architecture.
The Berlin locals recommend.
Where is Frankfurter Tor?
Frankfurter Tor is located in Berlin’s Friedrichshain district, at the intersection of Karl-Marx-Allee, Frankfurter Allee, Petersburger Straße and Warschauer Straße. The Frankfurter Tor underground station on the U5 line lies directly beneath the square.
Alright, friends,
when I think of Frankfurter Tor, I don't think of architecture or history first. I think of my childhood.
I honestly can't think of many places in Berlin where I've spent more time. Maybe Alexanderplatz, simply because I changed trains there countless times.
My primary school was right by Frankfurter Tor, I lived just a few minutes away, and my grandma Jutta still lives at Weberwiese today. I've also spent countless nights around Simon-Dach-Straße and Boxi (Boxhagener Platz).
To me, Frankfurter Tor was never just an intersection—it was part of everyday life for many years.
That's exactly why I find it so fascinating that most people instantly recognize the two towers today, yet hardly anyone knows why they're actually there.
Why is Frankfurter Tor in Berlin called Frankfurter Tor?
The name doesn't come from today's towers.
The original Frankfurter Tor was one of the city gates in Berlin's Customs Wall and stood around 800 metres further west. From there, the main road to Frankfurt (Oder) began—which is how the gate got its name.
The first Frankfurter Tor was built in the early 18th century.
It was originally a wooden gate before being replaced by a solid stone structure in 1802. It formed part of Berlin's Customs and Excise Wall, which was built less for defence than for controlling goods entering the city and collecting customs duties—similar to the role of the Oberbaum Bridge.
Anyone leaving Berlin to the east began their journey to Frankfurt (Oder) here. That route is exactly what gave the gate its name.
As Berlin continued to expand throughout the 19th century, the Customs Wall gradually lost its purpose. In 1867, it was finally demolished, and the original Frankfurter Tor disappeared with it.
Today, nothing at the site indicates that the historic city gate once stood roughly where Weberwiese is today.
The name, however, survived.
When the new square at the intersection of Frankfurter Allee, Karl-Marx-Allee, Petersburger Straße and Warschauer Straße was officially named Frankfurter Tor in 1957, it deliberately revived this part of Berlin's history.
Why are there two towers at Frankfurter Tor?
The two towers weren't built by chance. They were designed to resemble a monumental city gate, symbolising the entrance to the centre of East Berlin.
After the Second World War, this part of Berlin lay almost completely in ruins. Many buildings along what was then Frankfurter Straße had been destroyed by bombing raids and the Battle of Berlin.
Trümmerfrauen (women who cleared the rubble) and a dedicated rubble railway cleared the area before the GDR could begin one of its largest construction projects.
From the ruins, Stalinallee—today's Karl-Marx-Allee—began to take shape in the early 1950s. It was meant to be far more than an ordinary street. The new boulevard became one of the GDR's flagship projects, showcasing the young state's vision of modern housing, wide avenues and monumental architecture.
To this day, the twin towers of Frankfurter Tor mark the eastern end of this grand boulevard.
They were designed by Hermann Henselmann, one of the GDR's best-known architects. His idea was as simple as it was effective: anyone travelling towards the city centre should feel as if they were passing through a grand gateway into the heart of East Berlin.
Even today, that effect is surprisingly powerful.
Especially when you drive along Karl-Marx-Allee towards the city centre, the towers still feel like a monumental entrance to the city.
Why do the towers look so unique?
The twin towers of Frankfurter Tor were built in the style of Socialist Classicism. Their distinctive domes were deliberately inspired by the towers of the French Cathedral and the German Cathedral at Gendarmenmarkt, combining GDR architecture with Berlin's architectural heritage.
Many first-time visitors are reminded of Moscow or Saint Petersburg.
That's no coincidence. Early GDR architecture was heavily influenced by Soviet Socialist Classicism—often referred to as the "wedding cake style."
But the story is a little more complex than that.
Hermann Henselmann didn't simply want to copy Soviet architecture. Instead, he deliberately incorporated elements of Berlin's own architectural history.
The domes of the two towers were inspired by the crowning structures of the French Cathedral and the German Cathedral at Gendarmenmarkt, designed by Carl von Gontard in the late 18th century.
The result was a deliberate architectural link between historic Berlin and the new capital of the GDR.
The hidden detail beneath the domes
While most visitors only notice the green domes, it's worth taking a closer look at the details.
Columns, arcades and monumental passageways are reminiscent of classical palace architecture, while the comparatively simple façades already reflect how GDR architecture began moving away from elaborate ornamentation by the late 1950s.
Even many Berliners don't know this interesting detail: beneath the domes are glazed tambours. These spaces were originally intended to serve as communal rooms and exercise areas for residents. In the end, however, they were never used for that purpose.
What role did Frankfurter Tor play in the GDR?
Frankfurter Tor was part of the former Stalinallee—the most prestigious construction project of the young GDR. Its monumental residential buildings were designed to symbolise both the country's reconstruction and the superiority of the socialist system.
To understand Frankfurter Tor, you first have to understand Stalinallee.
After the war, the GDR didn't simply want to build new housing here. Instead, it created a grand boulevard that was meant to showcase the country's reconstruction and the ideals of socialism.
Wide streets, spacious squares and elaborately designed apartment buildings were intended to demonstrate that workers no longer lived in cramped backyards, but in modern "palaces."
For the time, these apartments were exceptionally comfortable.
Central heating, hot running water, lifts and spacious floor plans were anything but standard in the early 1950s. Feel free to read our blog about Berlin's Plattenbau housing estates here.
The East German Uprising of 17 June 1953
In the middle of this rebuilding effort, however, one of the most significant events in GDR history took place.
In June 1953, construction workers on Stalinallee went on strike to protest higher work quotas.
Within just a few hours, the strike grew into the East German Uprising of 17 June 1953, spreading across the entire GDR before being violently crushed by Soviet troops.
That's one of the reasons why Karl-Marx-Allee is far more than just a beautiful boulevard today—it tells a story of hope, propaganda and resistance all at once.
From the mid-1950s onwards, however, the GDR's architectural policy changed significantly. The elaborate façades were considered too expensive, and construction increasingly shifted towards functional designs and the prefabricated apartment blocks that would later become typical of East Germany.
That's why Frankfurter Tor also marks the architectural transition between two distinct eras.
Frankfurter Tor has been part of my life since childhood
The older I've got, the more I've realised just how many memories are tied to this place.
Pretty much every childhood birthday ended at McDonald's—the big two-storey building right next to the colonnades and the tram stop. A lot of different businesses have occupied the building since then, but back in those days, stopping there was simply part of the tradition.
Before school, we regularly pooled our loose change to make sure we had enough for a bag of sweets.
It feels like Humana has always been part of the square, and the large colonnades used to be a popular meeting spot for skaters.
Even my mum has told me that she used to meet her friends there for drinks.
I think that sums up what Frankfurter Tor is really about. It's not just a monument or a place to take photos. For generations, it's been a place where Berliners simply go about their everyday lives.
What can you experience at Frankfurter Tor today?
Today, Frankfurter Tor is much more than a historic landmark.
With its GDR architecture, cafés, Kino International, Spätis, restaurants and cultural venues, the square is one of the liveliest places in Friedrichshain, combining Berlin's history with everyday city life.
If you step out of the U-Bahn at Frankfurter Tor today, you'll quickly notice that the square is constantly buzzing with activity. Trams, cars, cyclists and pedestrians all converge here.
At the same time, this is where one of the most beautiful sections of Karl-Marx-Allee begins, making it the perfect place for a long walk.
Today, Frankfurter Tor is also one of the most important transport hubs in eastern Berlin.
The Frankfurter Tor station on the U5 line is located directly beneath the square. Tram lines M10 and 21, as well as several bus routes, also stop here.
From here, you can easily reach Alexanderplatz, Museum Island, Berlin Central Station, Warschauer Straße and Hohenschönhausen by public transport.
From a childhood hangout to a place to meet friends
To this day, I still meet up with friends here on a regular basis. Back then, we'd often continue towards RAW-Gelände, Oberbaum Bridge or Simon-Dach-Straße afterwards.
These days, I tend to enjoy the quieter side of the neighbourhood. One place I can especially recommend is Ristorante Sole—to this day, they serve one of the best truffle pasta dishes in Berlin, in my opinion.
The area around the square has changed a lot over the years, too.
The former Kino Kosmos, where I watched countless films as a child, is now mainly used as an event venue.
Every year, Karl-Marx-Allee turns into a festival stretching several kilometres during the Berlin Beer Festival.
And for the past few years, the Carnival of Cultures has also passed along Karl-Marx-Allee, turning the square into a meeting place for thousands of Berliners and visitors once again.
Is Frankfurter Tor worth visiting?
Yes—especially if you want to experience more than Berlin's famous landmarks.
Frankfurter Tor tells the story of Berlin from the 18th century through the reconstruction of the GDR and into the present day. It is one of the most impressive squares in Friedrichshain, making it an almost perfect starting point for exploring the neighbourhood.
It also offers one of the finest views along Karl-Marx-Allee.
Many people simply pass through or use it as a place to catch the U-Bahn. But it's well worth stopping for a moment and taking in the view.
Looking west, Karl-Marx-Allee opens up into one of Berlin's most impressive sightlines. Around sunset, I still love riding my scooter down what my grandma Jutta still calls Stalinallee, heading towards the city centre.
The twin towers stand in front of me, with the TV Tower and Berlin's skyline rising behind them.
For me, it's one of the most beautiful views in Berlin—and one of those moments that reminds you just how special this city really is.
A perfect starting point for exploring more of Berlin
If you still have some time afterwards, you can easily reach Volkspark Friedrichshain, the East Side Gallery, Holzmarkt 25 or Museum Island from here within just a few minutes.
This is also where I often start exploring the neighbourhood, heading towards Simon-Dach-Straße and Boxhagener Platz.
Even though the area has changed dramatically since the 2000s, it's still a place where I enjoy slowing down and reminiscing about old memories.
My final thoughts on Frankfurter Tor
For me, Frankfurter Tor is one of those places you shouldn't just photograph—you should understand.
It tells the story of Berlin's old Customs Wall, the city's reconstruction after the Second World War, the political divisions of the Cold War, and the everyday lives of the people who have called this area home for generations.
Berlin isn't a tourist attraction. Berlin is a city.
See you in the real Berlin—or here in the next blog.
Take care 🖤
MOST IMAGES IN THIS ARTICLE ARE SAMPLE IMAGES AND WERE NOT TAKEN AT THE PLACES FEATURED.
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