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 City Hostel Meininger
September 19th, 2006For backpackers and anyone travelling on a budget, the City Hostel Meininger is a lovely location for a holiday in Berlin. Designed in a modern, jolly manner, this hostel is clean, safe and well run. The City Hostel Meininger boasts 71 rooms, some of which are suitable for families and disabled travellers. Many rooms boast their private bathrooms and showers, while all are comfortable. The hostel is located close to the Jewish Museum and Potsdamer Platz, and it offers free breakfasts and a lovely rooftop terrace and bar.
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.
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.
Berlin’s attractions
September 13th, 2006Every area of the city of Berlin has a fascinating attraction to interest visitors, and each district has its own atmosphere and appeal. Numerous attractions are located in the historical Mitte city centre. While the popular destination of the Jewish museum is located in Kreuzberg, and notorious Checkpoint Charlie is found in Schloss Chlottenburg. More of Berlin’s attractions can be found in thelush outer district of Zehlendorf. For those hoping to enjoy the sights and sounds of the city’s nightlife, a trip to Prenzlauer Berg or Schoneberg is a must.