"The Berlin Experience!" a Berlin Travel Page by Gillianina

Berlin: the biggest city in Germany. One of the most interesting Capital Cities in Europe, a city which like New York never sleeps, a city which, after the fall of the wall on November 9 1989, has become an immense open air laboratory of architecture. A city with an incomparable cultural life, a city so big surrounded by woods, parks and lakes; a city in constant change which will never stop to amaze. A city with so many different faces, but with one soul. A city which survived a tragic past being identified as visible scar between two worlds, but managed to find the strength to fight for its future under the same sky. And this is, after all, its charm.

I’ve been to Berlin in December 2002, unfortunately just for a weekend, while staying one year in Münster to study (really?!! Lol) Anyway it was my favourite trip I did in that time, and I have had so much fun! Unfortunately it was for such a short time, that I didn’t see all that I wanted to see, and I really would like to visit again soon. :-)

Have also a look at my Travelogues about the Berlin Wall and East Side Gallery!

*HAPPY BROWSING* :-)

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East Side Gallery

History of the city

The history of Berlin begins with the mention of the settlement of merchants Cölln on the banks of the river Spree (in the today’s Mitte quarter) in 1237. It was for the first time officially called Berlin in 1307 and built formed with Cölln a Union and in the 14th century became member of the Hanseatic League. The city lost its self administration between 1442 and 1448 in favour of Prince Elector Friedrich the 2nd. By order of Prussian King Friedrich 1st Berlin united with three suburbs to become Residenzstadt (city of residence). After several occupations by the Austrians, the Russians and the French, Berlin became in 1871 the Capital City of the German Kingdom. On November 9 1918 the Social democrats proclaimed the Republic. In 1920 Berlin united with seven nearby cities and departments and reached today’s extension.
On January 30 1933 Adolf Hitler was designated Chancellor of the Reich. From Berlin National Socialist Germany started on September 1 1939 the Second World War, which ended on May 8 1945, with the unconditional surrender. After the war the winning powers ran the destroyed Berlin together, but it became soon clear that the Soviet Union and the USA had contrasting interests in the area; this lead to Germany’s division, which became official in 1949, when two countries were founded: The Federal Republic of Germany, and the German Democratic Republic. On August 13 1961 the Administration of the German Democratic Republic decided to close the borders with Western Berlin, with he construction of the wall (the main reasons were to stop the flow of the workers escaping to Western Germany in order to get better Job work conditions). In 1987 the two parts of the city celebrated separately the 750th anniversary of Berlin. Due to a deep social transformation process, the wall was unexpected opened on November 9 1989. With the reunification of the two German states, on October 3 1990, the parliament designated Berlin as Capital City of the Federal Republic of Germany. Since October 1 1991 the seat of the major of Berlin is located in the Red City Hall in Mitte department.

Source: www.welcomm.de

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Berliner Dom

General Info

• 22% of the area of the city is made up of woods and lakes, and is crossed by 197 km of waterways (the main are the Havel and the Sprea).

• Berlin is the biggest city in Germany; the urban conglomeration covers 889 km² (8 times the surface of Paris).

• 2.200.000 of the 3.500.000 inhabitants live in the western districts of Berlin, while 1.300.000 lived in the former Eastern Berlin, before the reunification.

• The population is one of the youngest of the nation (70% of the Berliners is aged between 18 to 65) and the most heterogeneous from the ethnical point of view (12,5% come from 184 nations!)

• Since 1989, after the fall of the wall, Berlin has reacquired a remarkable importance from the economic point of view. The working population amounts to 1,5 million people.

• It’s the main industrial city between Moscow and Paris; after the fall of the wall hundreds of industries decided to move their seats here, and some of them (like Mercedes Benz and Sony) committed themselves in imposing architectural projects. Since October 3 1990 (date of the German reunification),

• Berlin has become the Capital of Germany again, even if the transfer of the parliament and of the Government took 10 years,

• The city is also one of the “Länder” (administrative regions) of the Federal republic of Germany; the major of Berlin is at the same time President of the ministers of the “Land”.

Source: Guida Verde della Germania, Touring Club Italiano, 2000 edition

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