Archive for the 'Visitor Attractions' Category
The Neue Synagoge
October 9th, 2006To the north of Alexanderplatz, the area of Scheunenviertel has regained its role as the city’s Jewish centre following reunification. At the centre of this area, visitors should visit the beautiful Neue Synagoge. Built in 1866, this building has been lovingly restored, and it features a stunning golden dome. Built in a Moorish-Byzantine style, the Neue Synagoge is home to the fascinating Centrum Judaicum, which features a wonderful exhibition on Jewish life in the city throughout the years.
Museum Berlin-Karlshorst
October 6th, 2006Visitors to Berlin, who are hoping to explore some of Germany’s rich history, should take some time to visit the Museum Berlin-Karlshorst. This fascinating museum documents the often-tense relationship between German and the Soviet Union, between 1917 and reunification. The Museum Berlin-Karlshorst is home to photographs, uniforms and documents, and it stands in the villa where German officers signed the 1945 unconditional surrender of the Wehrmacht. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, and admission is free.
The Pergamon Museum
October 5th, 2006Possibly the most popular museum in the city, the Pergamon Museum is certainly deserving of its reputation. This impressive museum houses stunning examples of Roman, Greek, Islamic, Babylonian and Middle Eastern art and architecture. The museum is divided into three sections, Classical Antiquities, Near Eastern Antiques and Islamic Art. Just a couple of the wonderful works include the gorgeous Pergamon Altar, which dates back to 165 BC Turkey, and the 17th century Aleppo Room, which features beautiful wood carvings.
The Oranienburger Tor theatre district
October 4th, 2006Theatre-lovers should make sure to take a trip to the area where Oranienburger Strasse merges with Friedrichstrasse, known as Oranienburger Tor. This area is famously regarded as Berlin’s most important theatre district, and it offers plenty of attractions to visitors. Home to theatres of all sizes, Oranienburger Tor is particularly famed for the opulent Friedrichstadtpalast, the well-respected Deutsches Theatre & Kamerspiele, and the world-renowned Berliner Ensemble. The latter was founded by Bertolt Brecht, who lived within walking distance of the Oranienburger Tor.
The Berggruen Collection
October 3rd, 2006For anyone with an interest in art, a trip to the Berggruen Collection is certainly recommended. Located in the Schloss area, this museum houses a stunning collection of work by Pablo Picasso. The museum houses examples of work from throughout the great painter’s career, including his Cubist and Blue and Rose periods. Not just home to Picasso’s paintings, the Berggruen Collection also boasts work by Cezanne, Braque, Gauguin and Klee. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 6pm.
The Berliner Dom
October 2nd, 2006Located close to the delightful Musemsinsel (Museum Island), the Berliner Dom is a wonderful destination for any visitors to the city. Built in 1905, this lovely neo-Renaissance church is a charming part of Berlin’s skyline. The church was built for the royal Hohenzollern family, some of whom are today housed in the church’s crypt. Popular attractions within the church include wonderful daily organ recitals at 3pm, and the stunning view of the city from the gallery.
The Brucke Museum
September 29th, 2006Art lovers should take a trip to the Brucke Museum in the southwest of the city. The museum celebrates the work of the group of artists known as Die Brucke (The Bridge). Founded in 1905 by Ernst Ludwig Kircher, Erich Heckel and Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, the group sought to move away from staid art traditions. The group was the birthplace for German expressionism, and the Brucke Museum celebrates some of its finest work. The museum is open everyday except Tuesday.
The Altes Museum
September 26th, 2006Found in the heart of Berlin’s historic Mitte district, the Altes Museum boasts some lovely art and sculptures from ancient Greece and Rome. Built in 1830, the Altes Museum was designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel in a neoclassical style. The museum boasts a stunning rotunda, and a famed sculpture of Zeus. The museum was the first to be built in the area known as Museum Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that houses five impressive museums.
Tacheles
September 25th, 2006For anyone interested in artistic or cultural pursuits, a visit to Tacheles is certainly recommended. This fascinating building was once a very ordinary department store, but following reunification, it was taken over by artistic squatters, and today it boasts numerous artist studios, a cinema, galleries, a coffee shop and a charming restaurant named Milagro. Tacheles is a bustling, graffiti-covered area that boasts wonderful cutting-edge art, and delicious food. It is the perfect example of the avant-garde, inclusive culture for which Berlin is famed.
The East Side Gallery
September 19th, 2006Construction of the Berlin Wall began on the 13th August, 1961. For the following three decades, the wall divided East and West Germany. The wall stretched for 160km, and it was lined with watchtowers, guards and guard dogs in an effort to prevent East Berliners travelling to the more opulent West Berlin. The wall was finally pulled down on the 9th of November 1989, and today the East Side Gallery offers the best-preserved stretch of wall. This 1300m stretch has been decorated by artists from across the world.