Berlin’s Top Five Attractions
Situated in the north eastern sector of Germany, Berlin is a cosmopolitan city recognized for its festivals, diverse architecture, nightlife, contemporary arts and high standard of living.
Brandenburg Gate
No matter where you stay, you must see the Brandenburg Gate. Commissioned back in 1788 by Friedrich Wilhelm II as a symbol of peace, the gate was designed by Karl Gothard Langhans, the Court Superintendent of Buildings. Its design remains unchanged. It became the symbol of Nazi power during World War II. During the years of Communist government the gate was considered part of the Berlin Wall and today it symbolizes the reunification of the remarkable city.
Pergamon Museum
If you can only see one museum in Berlin, make it the Pergamon. Located on Museum Island, the focus of this amazing museum is ancient and early modern history. One of its most striking displays is the 2,000-year-old massive Altar of Zeus that came from the Acropolis of Pergamon. Its transportation to the museum represents a staggering feat of engineering and the structure takes up an entire room. The marble staircase is breathtaking as well as the other large pieces housed here, including the mosaic Ishtar Gate with its ornate unicorns.
The Holocaust Memorial
Surely there are few things more horrible in modern history than the Nazi regime and its systematic attempt to annihilate the Jewish race. The Holocaust Memorial is a permanent reminder of this terrible time and it is dedicated to the memory of the six million Jews that were murdered by the Third Reich. It opened in 2004 and is located near the Brandenburg Gate, not far from the bunker where Adolph Hitler killed himself. Designed by Peter Eisenman, the memorial consists of stark grey blocks, the meaning of which is open to personal interpretation. Next to the monument is an information centre, which chronicles the harrowing stories of Holocaust survivors.
Berlin State Library
The Berlin State Library is Germany’s largest academic and research library and it is almost 350 years old. Founded in 1661 by Friedrich Wilhelm I Von Brandenburg, its collection is impressive and includes 10 million books, one million maps and atlases, more than 180,000 newspaper volumes, around 60,000 manuscripts and many other important ephemera. Library treasures are so huge they are in two locations, the original in the former East Berlin and the newer building in the West on Potsdamer Strasse.
Berlin Zoo
The Berlin Zoo proudly stands in the south west portion of the Tiergarten, a large public park in the centre of Berlin. A gift to the city from King Friedrich Wilhelm IV in 1844, the first animals were the king’s own. The animal population increased rapidly, and today more than 15,000 animals representing about 1,400 species call the zoo home. There are few cages as most of the animals roam freely in re-creations of their natural habitats.
A city of many wonders, don’t miss some of these sights the next time you visit Berlin.
