Archive for the 'Visitor Attractions' Category
The Alte Nationalgalerie
September 19th, 2006Situated in the Mitte district (the historic centre of the city of Berlin) the Alte Nationalgalerie is a lovely museum housing 19th European art work. The museum is located in a Greek temple, beautifully restored by August Stuler. The Alte Nationalgalerie houses stunning work by sculptors such as Gottfried Schadow, and Romantics such as Caspar David Friedrich. The museum’s lovely stairwell features a frieze by German artist Otto Geyers, while the first floor boasts sculptures by Reinhold Begas.
The Gendarmenmarkt
September 17th, 2006Located in the heart of Berlin’s Mitte district (the area considered to be Berlin’s birthplace, and its cultural, political and commercial centre), the beautiful Gendarmenmarkt is well worth a visit. Close to the Bebelplatz, the stunning and elegant square is one of the most impressive in the city. The Gendarmenmarkt is the location of the remarkable churches of Deutscher Dom and Franzosischer Dom. This square is also home to the lovely Konzerthaus Berlin, where the Berliner Symphomie Orchester regularly plays.
The memorial to the Murdered European Jews
September 17th, 2006Located close to the Brandenburg Gate, visitors should take some time to visit the Memorial to the Murdered European Jews (known locally as the Holocaust Memorial). This striking and controversial monument was designed by New York architect Peter Eisemann, and it opened in August 2003. The Memorial to the Murdered European Jews consists of a huge grid of concrete slabs of varying height. The grid acts as a huge maze that can be accessed from any side. An information centre lies beneath the memorial.
The Brandenburg Gate
September 15th, 2006A popular attraction in the heart of Berlin’s Mitte district is the beautiful and historic Brandenburg Gate. The gate was built in the 18th century, and it was by far the most spectacular of the 18 city gates scattered throughout Berlin. During the Cold War, the Gate was seen as a symbol of the city’s division, while in more recent years the Brandenburg Gate has come to represent German reunification. This stunning gate is topped by a winged goddess riding a horse-drawn chariot. Within the gate, visitors can find the Raum der Stille (Room of Silence), where people of all nationalities and religions are invited to come together in a moment of silence.
Berlin’s Christmas Markets
September 13th, 2006For anyone who likes to throw themselves into the Christmas spirit, a trip to one of Berlin’s Christmas Markets is an absolute must. The markets are dotted throughout the city, with popular markets in Breitscheidplatz, Alexanderplatz (featuring an ice rink and fairy forest) and in the outdoor Opernpalais on Unter den Linden. The Christmas markets are open everyday from late November to Christmas Eve and they are the perfect location to pick up gifts, treat yourself or simply a look at lovely, traditional German crafts and food.
Germaldegalerie
September 11th, 2006On the south-eastern edge of Tiergarten Park, visitors can find a number of fascinating museums and galleries. One wonderful museum in this area is the Gemäldegalerie. This museum acts as a who’s who of European painting from the 13th to the 18th centuries. Visitors to the Gemäldegalerie can marvel at wonderful work by: Goya, Titian, Botticelli, Rubens, Velázquez, Rembrandt, Reynolds and many more. The museum also features a stunning Great Hall - a massive pillared area lit by beautiful circular skylights. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm, with late-night opening on Thursdays.
The Unter Den Linden Boulevard
September 8th, 2006Probably the most impressive boulevard in the city is the area around Unter Den Linden, located in Berlin Mitte – one of the city’s oldest districts. This stretch offers numerous attractions for visitors, and just a few of these include: the Russian Embassy, which is a large marble building in the style of many Stalin-era buildings. The Deutsche Guggenheim houses stunning examples of contemporary art, while the Alte Stastsbibliothek library houses the original sheet music of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. Other popular attractions around the Unter Den Linden Boulevard include the German historical Museum and the Neue Wache memorial.
The Zoologischer Garten Berlin
September 6th, 2006For a wonderful family day out, visitors should take a trip to the Zoologischer Garten Berlin. Located close to the centre of the city in the Berlin Tiergarten, the zoo has gained an impressive international reputation for its conservation efforts, not least its successful breeding of the extremely rare black rhinoceros. The Zoologischer Garten Berlin boasts all of the children’s favourites: gorillas, hippos, pandas and lions, as well as a beautiful three-storey aquarium. The zoo is the most popular zoo in Europe and it attracts up to 3 million visitors each year.