"Welcome to BERLIN" Land Berlin by Leipzig

Berlin is Germany’s capital, seat of government and largest city. It’s also one of the 16 federal states. Although the Wall came down in 1989 there is a stark contrast between the two parts of the city, partly due to economic contrasts between East and West. The east contains the densely populated working class quarters of Mitte, Pankow, Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain. West Berlin also had its poorer areas like Wedding, Neukölln and Kreuzberg. In comparison, the green and leafy areas of Charlottenburg and Zehlendorf have a more affluent atmosphere. While the western part looks more like a modern west-europen city the eastern half probably gives a more accurate image of what Berlin was like in the 1920s and 30s. Alexanderplatz, was one of the main centres of 1920s Berlin as well as of post-war East Berlin, is today dominated by the Television Tower. Unter den Linden, which Frederick the Great saw as the centrepiece of his royal capital and which changed from one of the premier thoroughfares of the old unified city to the showpiece of the GDR. Restored monumental buildings, and diplomatic missions to the former GDR capital now line it. At its western end, the Brandenburg Gate , the symbol of European division. Now it is again accessible from both East and West. Berlin is also the city of Museums. In East Berlin can be found the Museumsinsel. The most famous museums in Berlin are the Pergamon Museum and the Ägyptisches Museum. The symbol of Berlins reunification is Potsdamerplatz, a high tech city quarter.