Sightseeing in Berlin is exciting, informative and it can be heart wrenching. This city has seen more transformative modern history than many others in the world and visiting Berlin is an eye opening experience for anyone.
One stop that every sightseer must take in when traveling to Berlin is the Berlin Wall, or what remains of it. After World War II Germany was divided into four parts, each part was occupied by a different country, America, Great Britain, France, and the former Soviet Union. The city of Berlin was also divided into four sections. Further disagreements on occupation ensued and eventually the Soviet portion became known as the German Democratic Republic which was known as East Germany and East Berlin became the capital. The other zones were known as the Federal Republic of Germany or West Germany with the capital being Bonn. Until 1961 East Germans could move between the two portions of the country but eventually it became clear that the West side was more popular as almost 20,000 East Germans were moving to West Berlin a month. On August 13th 1961 the city of West Berlin was surrounded by barbed wire, which eventually was replaced by an actual wall, and traffic back and forth was largely prohibited. In 1989 amid revolts and street protests, in a very dramatic move, the wall came crumbling down and the people trapped within were once again free to move about freely. Parts of the wall still remain and draw tourists and visitors every year.
Germany’s history isn’t all rosy, it’s a fact that the world recognizes and Germany makes no effort to gloss over the Holocaust. The Holocaust Memorial is not only a reminder of this horrifying moment in history it’s also a tribute to those whose lives were lost. The original idea for the Holocaust Memorial was proposed in 1988 but the design wasn’t approved until 11 years later. Eventually Peter Eisenman’s design was chosen and his memorial of 2,711 plain gray stone slabs stretched out over 205,000 square feet now stands as the Holocaust Memorial. Each stone is unique in its own way and when viewed from the right angles the stones like up to create a wave-like pattern across the ground. Eisenman’s vision was to create visual instability and disorientation. Known by most as the Holocaust Memorial, its official name is the Monument to the Murdered Jews in Europe. Take a moment to stop at the information center at the base and find information on the tragedies of World War II and hear personal stories from families and individuals who survived.
Reichstag is the seat of German Parliament and one of Berlin’s most historical and noted landmarks. The Reichstag came out of the German Empire in 1872 and was a necessity to house everyone during governmental proceedings. In 1933 a fire destroyed most of the building. Inside the central dome are most of the original ornamentation which were painstakingly restored in the 1990s. The glass dome at the top is particularly popular with tourists as they can walk all the way to the top.
One of the most popular tourist stops in Germany is St. Nicholas Quarter or Nikolaiviertel. This district is one of the oldest and most historic in the city of Berlin but most of the buildings were destroyed in World War II so many of the buildings you see there today are replicas that were created in 1979 as part of the 750th anniversary of St. Nicholas Quarter. In the center of Nikolaiviertel is the oldest church in Berlin, or at least a rebuilt version of this 13th century church. Inside the church, Nilolaikirche, is a museum which is a must stop for tourists who want to learn more about the city’s history.
To get a better look at the cultural aspects of Germany Museumsinsel or Museum Island is a perfect stop for tourists. This island in the Spree River houses several noted museums and is a convenient stop for people looking to explore the cultural side of Germany. The oldest museum is Altes Museum which holds the antique collection of the Berlin State Museums. Originally built between 1823 and 1830 it was once the Royal Museum. The Neues Museum is also called the New Museum and was originally built between 1843 and 1855 but was heavily damaged during the war. The Neuses Museum is noted for its Egyptian, prehistoric, and early history collections. The Alte Nationalgalerie is the local art museum with noted pieces from the Classical, Romantic, Biedermeier, Impressionist and Modernist eras. The Bode Museum has a number of sculptures from a huge variety of regions and eras. And finally the Pergamon Museum which is quite an impressive museum with reconstructions of noted monuments which have been transported from their original excavations and moved to the island. The Pergamon is the most visited art museum in Germany with an estimated 850,000 people visiting each year.
Charlottenburg Palace is the largest palace in Berlin, built in several stages the original stage began in 1695 and 1699 and was meant to serve as the summer home for Sophie Charlotte. Once Sophie’s husband was named the first Prussian King, Friedrich I, the palace began its massive expansion. Inside this wonderful historic architectural masterpiece are beautiful interiors emphasized with art pieces collected throughout the years. The Eichengallerie, or art gallery is an excellent example with oil paintings and a Porzellan-kabinett with restored Chinese and Japanese porcelain. If you prefer the art of the German romantics, the Galerie der Romantik deserves a good look. Behind Schloss Charlottenburg, or the Charlottenburg Palace, is a park that was originally laid out in French Baroque style. It had been converted into a landscape garden but after the restoration part of it resumed its French influence. Not just a park, explore the area and find the mausoleum and the porcelain museum and many other highlights.
In addition to these few sightseeing highlights there are a number of significant sightseeing stops that will give you a deeper understanding of traditional German culture and its incredible citizens.
Photo credit: wit
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Categories: Destinations, Featured
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