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Berlin
The vibrant metropolis offers highlights for every interest you may have - history, museums, architecure & art or shopping. Berlin has seen many a different time from the splendor of the Hohenzollern Dynasty to the Third Reich Regime and the Cold War Period to Millenium Berlin setting the pace for Germany and beyond. In the following we list some of the top attractions of the city. This should give you a first idea of what you want to see while in Berlin. There is more, of course...
This square was the most prominent centre in former East Berlin.
It was named after the russian emperor Alexander I who visited
Berlin in 1805. Today it is dominated by the large modern
socialist style constructions and the famous Berlin TV Tower.
Here you'll find excellent shopping facilities and a grand
central train station as a gateway to Berlin's Center. Close
to "Alex" is the "Rotes Rathaus" (red
town hall) as well as Berlin Cathedral.
Brandenburg Gate is the symbol for the reunification of Germany.
The former town gate with the famous Quadriga on top was built
around 1788 based on ancient greek motifs. For 40 years it
was directly at the border between the two blocks. Right next
to it is the famous Reichstag on the former west german side
and the avenue Unter den Linden on the former eastern part.
The new american embassy opened up here.
The mighty cathedral at the river Spree was built from 1895
to 1905 by the architect Julius Raschdorff. Once considered
the protestant counterweight to St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican
City it was severely damaged during the war. Reconstruction
work finished in 1993. Today it is open to the public and
offers a grand view from the base of the dome. The crypt
of the Hohenzollern family can also be visited. Next to it
is the "Lustgarten" with the Altes Museum (Old Museum). 
The baroque style palace was built for the Prussian Empress
Sophie Charlotte in the 17th century. It is one of the oldest
palaces in Berlin. It consists of several wings and a charming
Orangerie with the palace theatre and a park. After war destruction
it was completely restored and now houses a museum. Just around
the corner is the famous Berggruen Collection with paintings
and artwork, e.g. of Picasso, Braque and Klee. The collection
is enlarged on a regular basis.
This central square is close to Brandenburg Gate and Berlin
Cathedral. It was named after a french regiment (gens d'armes)
deployed here until 1773. Two large cathedrals, the german
and the french, as well as a concert hall by Schinkel embellish
the square. The French Cathedral was built by the Huguenot
community around 1705. The German Cathedral was built in 1708
by Giovanni Simonetti. After war destruction they have been
restored to its old splendor. Between the cathedrals is the
"Konzerthaus" (concert house) from 1821. A charming
ensemble. 
The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe located close
to Brandenburg Gate was designed by Peter Eisenman and built
between 2003 and 2005. It is a very unusual approach to this
dark period lacking any kind of symbolism and offering space
for interpretation and reflection. 2711 concrete stelae in
a grid pattern can be walked into from all sides. The underground
information centre provides information on the victims, the
places of extermination and today's memorial sites. The memorial
site is open 24 hours, the centre closes mondays.
The church was originally built at the end of the 19th century
for one of the last German Emperors. Destroyed during WW2
in 1943 a modern church was built right next to the ruins
from 1959-61. The interior has a special light installation.
The church is today a anti-war memorial and space for pacifism.
Next to it is the so called Europa Centre with shops and restaurants.
The square outside is a popular venue for street art and music
and always busy with people. A good place to enjoy german
snacks from one of the many vendors. 
The locals nickname it "Ku'damm". The name relates
to the Kurfürst - the german prince elector - of which
there have been many in the prussian history. This boulevard
has been the most acclaimed shopping area for many generations
of locals and visitors. Here you'll find a wide range of national
and international brand shops as well as trendy boutiques
and the famous KaDeWe department store (see above). Other
sites include a Nike-town and the BMW show room. 
This collection of museums is nestled on an island ringed
by the waters of the Spree river. The buildings were constructed
between 1830 and 1930. The earliest was the "Altes Museum",
by the prussian architect Schinkel, with the famous bust of
Nofretete and a beautiful garden in front next to the "Berliner
Dom". Further museums include the Egyptian Museum, the
Pergamon Museum (with the Pergamon Altar, collection of classical
antiquities and ancient near eastern antiquities) and the
Bode Museum with its collection of sculptures and Byzantine
Art. In 1999 the Museum Isle was declared a UNESCO World Heritage
site. Close by are further noteworthy sights like the German
Historical Museum, the Bebel square (site of the burning of
the books 1938) as well as the Staatsoper and Humboldt University. 
The synagogue was consecrated in 1868 and was able to seat
3200 people. Hence it was the largest and most beautiful Jewish
place of worship in Germany. After having been desecrated
during the Pogrom of 1938 it was destroyed by air raids in
the war. Only the rooms and the walls towards the street remained.
The restored building now is home to the Centrum Judaicum
of the Foundation for the New Synagogue Berlin. There are
permanent and temporary exhibitions and a view platform in
the cupola to be visited. The rooms of prayer are not open
to the public. The New Synagogue has become a landmark for
Berlin again. 
Only a few footsteps from the Brandenburg Gate is the so called
"Regierungsviertel" (governments quarter) with the
"Reichstag" building as the centre. Linked with
Germany's past and present it today houses the German Parliament.
The dome was constructed after plans by Sir Norman Foster
and offers a grand view of Berlin and also into the parliament's
rooms. Close by are the Chancellery and further government
buildings. Within a few years this previously quite area on
the banks of river Spree transformed into a new political
centre. 
The tower at Alexander-Square is the landmark of East-Berlin.
Built between 1965-69 it was intented to be a symbol of Berlin
by the administration of the GDR (German Democratic Republic).
The original height was 365 metres (1000 feet)), now 3 more
metres due to a new antenna. Thus it is the third largest
structure in Europe. A visitor attraction is the view platform,
accessible by elevator, and the rotating restaurant. On a
clear day the visibility reaches up to 25 miles. The restaurant
does a full rotation every 20 minutes now - originally it
took 40 minutes. A fast world! © 2009 - 2011
Rostock Travel Service