Brandenburg Tor : A must see in Berlin and other Berlin, Germany Things to Do Tips

'The Brandenburg Gate, Berlin's only remaining city gate, is the true symbol of the city. Because it was situated in the no man's land just behind the Berlin wall, it also became symbolic of the division of the city.

After the Fall of the Wall, the Gate was reopened on December 22, 1989.

This sandstone construction, has 12 Doric columns and is based on the propylaeum of the Acropolis in Athens. On both sides, six Doric columns support the 11 meter-deep transverse beam, dividing the gate into five passageways. In 1794 the building was crowned with the quadriga and goddess of victory created by Schadow, which face eastwards towards the city center.'

INFO : http://www.berlin-tourist-information.de/cgi-bin/sehenswertes.pl?id=13340&sprache=english

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Address: Pariser Platz, Berlin-Mitte
Directions: S-Bahn: Unter den Linden, Bus 100

The Reichstag, a neo-renaissance building is 137 m long and 97m wide and was constructed between 1884 and 1894, mainly funded with wartime reparation money from France.

The famous inscription 'Dem Deutschen Volke' (To the German People) was only added in 1916.

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Phone: 22 73 21 52
Address: Platz der Republik, Berlin-Tiergarten
Directions: Bus 100

The Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche or Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is one of Berlin's most famous landmarks. This damaged tower is a symbol of Berlin's resolve to rebuild the city after the war and a constant reminder of the destruction of war.

There is a new, octagonal church built alongside the existing tower. A freestanding hexagonal bell tower was constructed on the site of the former main nave of the destroyed church.

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Phone: +49- (0)30- 218 50 23
Address: Breitscheidplatz, Berlin-Charlottenburg
Directions: U-Bahn: Zoologischer Garten
Website: http://www.gedaechtniskirche.de

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Alexander-platz was one of the busiest squares in the city. Originally it was called the Ochsenmarkt or oxen market, but after a visit by Tzar Alexander I it was renamed to Alexanderplatz. The locals simply call this large square 'Alex'.

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Address: Alexanderplatz, Berlin-Mitte
Directions: U-Bahn: Alexanderplatz

The Rotes Rathaus or the Berlin Town Hall is the official residence of the Berlin Mayor.

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Address: Rathausstraße, Berlin-Mitte
Directions: U-Bahn: Alexanderplatz

The Neue Synagogue was the symbol of the Jewish community in Berlin. It was desecrated by the nazis and destroyed in 1943 by allied bombing, demolished in 1958 but reconstructed in 1995.

Together with the reconstruction of the Neue Synagogue, the whole Scheunenviertel district has enjoyed a revival. It is now a lively district with many restaurants and cafés.

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Address: Oranienburger Strasse 30, Mitte

This landmark square in Berlin was one of the most liveliest and busiest in the world. It was a major public transport hub then and the area in the vicinity contained many bars, cafés and cinemas.

Left alone after the war, completely flattened with the construction of the wall in 1961 when the demolished buildings were pulled down, it was revived in the 1990s and is now several landmark towers, a shopping arcade, an entertainment center and residential buildings

Amongst the buildings there currently are the Debis tower, the Sony Center and the Kohlhof building.

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Address: Potsdamer Platz, Berlin-Tiergarten
Directions: U-Bahn: Potsdamer Platz

Concert Hall is the most recent building on the Gendarmenmarkt. Built on the ruins of the National Theater, it is now home to the Berlin Symphony Orchestra.

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Address: Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin-Mitte
Directions: U-Bahn: Stadtmitte

The Französischer Dom and Deutscher Dom are two seemingly identical churches opposite each other.

The Französischer Dom, ther older of the 2 doms, contains a Huguenot museum, a restaurant on the top floor and a viewing platform.

The Deutscher Dom or German Cathedral is the most southern building at the Gendarmenmarkt. has a museum with exhibits on German history.

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Address: Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin-Mitte
Directions: U-Bahn: Stadtmitte

Construction of this 166km solid wall begun in mid-1961 to prevent people leaving the East Berlin.

~To be completed~

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