TRAVEL BERLIN
GENERAL INFORMATION-Berlin is the capital city of Germany and one of the 16th states of Federal Republic of Germany. It is the largest city of Germany on the river Spree. Berlin is a metropolitan area and about 190 countries people lives here. It is best known for its, historical associations as the German Capitol, lively nightlife, cafes, clubs and bars, street arts, museums, places .The damaged portions was repaired after the fall of Berlin Wall in 1989.Buildings at Alexanderplatz and Potsdamer Platz are ultra-modern glass and steel structures. Around one third area of the city’s area is composed of forests, parks, gardens, rivers and lakes .The city has headquarters of Siemens ,Deutsche Bahn (state railway),BMW(motorcycles factory), Daimler(cars), Bayer Health Care and Air Berlin.
HISTORY-Berlin was capital of the kingdom of Prussia (1701-1918), the German Empire (1871-1918), Weimar Republic (1919-1933) , Third Reich (1933-1945).After WWII city was divided in to two -East Berlin and West Berlin. In 1990 the city regained its status as the capital of Germany. During the reign of George William, he initiated the policy of immigration and religious tolerance and offered asylum to the French Huguenots. Many other immigrants from Bohemia, Poland and Salzburg came and settled. On 30th Jan 1933 Adolf Hitler and Nazi Party came to power. Nazi rule destroyed Berlin’s Jews community and murdered 1,70,000 before 1933.After the end of WWII ,and in 1945,Berlin received large numbers of refugees from Eastern provinces .The victorious powers divided the city into four sectors .Western Allies-United States ,UK ,France as West Berlin and Soviet Sector as East Berlin .The founding of two states started Cold War tensions .On 13.08.1961 East Berlin started building Berlin Wall and events escalated to a tank standoff at Checkpoint Charlie on 27.10.1961. In 1989,with the end of Cold War ,Berlin Wall fell on 9th November 1989 and removed from the site and little remains at East Side Gallery in Friedrichshain .On 3.10.1990,two parts of Germany were reunified as the federal Republic of Germany and Berlin became again the capitol of the Germany.
GEOGRAPHY-Berlin is situated approximately 60 kms west of Polish border.
AREA- 891.82Km2
POPULATION-34, 32,000
CO-ORDINATES-520 30' 02" N, 130 23' 56" E
TIME ZONE-U T C +1, Summer U T C +2
AREA- 891.82Km2
POPULATION-34, 32,000
CO-ORDINATES-520 30' 02" N, 130 23' 56" E
TIME ZONE-U T C +1, Summer U T C +2
TOURIST INFLOW-25, 52,000(36th)
CLIMATE-The temperature of the city is as follows -
CLIMATE-The temperature of the city is as follows -
TEMP JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
HIGH 3 4 8 13 19 22 24 24 19 13 7 4
LOW -1 2 1 4 9 12 15 14 11 6 2 0
HIGH 3 4 8 13 19 22 24 24 19 13 7 4
LOW -1 2 1 4 9 12 15 14 11 6 2 0
TEGEL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (TXL)-It is the airport on the northwest side of the city, 7 km from the centre of the city. Berlin Tegel "Otto Lilienthal" Airport is the main international airport in Berlin, Germany. It is situated in Tegel, a section of the northern borough of Reinickendorf, 8 km northwest of the city centre of Berlin. In 2010, the airport served just over 15 million passengers, making it by far the biggest airport serving Berlin and the fourth busiest airport in Germany. Tegel Airport is a hub for Air Berlin and serves as a focus city for Lufthansa and Germanwings. Construction of a new, hexagonally shaped terminal complex on the airport's south side began during the 1960s. It became operational on 1 November 1974. Following Germany's reunification on 3 October 1990, all access restrictions to the former West Berlin airports were lifted. Tegel airport consists of five terminals. As the airport is small compared to other major airports, these terminals might be regarded as "halls" or "boarding areas", nevertheless, they are officially referred to as "terminals", even if they share the same building .The main building is the original part of the airport. It consists of two parts: Terminal A is a hexagon-shaped ring concourse with a parking area, taxi stands and bus stops in its middle. It features 14 jet bridges which correspond to 16 respective check-in counters (A00–A15), with jet ways 1 and 14 each serving two check-in counters. There is no transit zone, which means that each gate has its own security clearance checkpoint and exit for arriving passengers. Therefore, direct flight connections without leaving the airside area are not possible. Terminal B (also called "Nebel-Hall" after German spaceflight pioneer Rudolf Nebel) is a converted former waiting area in a side wing of the main building and features check-in counters B20–B39. There is only one bus-boarding aircraft stand directly serving it. Terminal C was opened in May 2007 as a temporary solution because all other terminals operated on their maximum capacity. It is largely used by Air Berlin. It features 26 check-in counters (C40–C57, C60–C67) and 8 bus-boarding aircraft stands. Terminal D, a converted car park, was opened in 2001. It features 22 check-in counters (D70–D91), with one bus-boarding gate and two walk-boarding gates.
BERLIN SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS-
001-BRADENBURGER GATE(Brander burger Tor)-This is the only remaining gate of medieval times in Berlin and it has become the symbol of a division of Berlin after the fall of Berlin Wall now it is also the symbol of reunified Berlin .This gate built in 1788-91 by sandstone 65.5 m wide and 28 m tall and based on the gateway to the Acropolis in Athens, it has 12 Doric columns and divides the gate into five passageways and on the top of the gate is a quadriga-a four horse chariot as a symbol of triumph in 1793 was placed which points to the east in the direction of the city centre-the chariot is driven by the goddess of peace now called Victoria. Only the royal family was allowed to pass through the central archway, as well as members of the Pfuel family from 1814 to 1919. In addition, the central archway was also used by the coaches of Ambassadors on the single occasion of their presenting their letters of credence to the council. After the Prussian defeat in 1806 Napoleon took the Quadriga to Paris and in Paris stayed for ten years until Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo and it was returned to Germany .When the Nazis ascended to power they used the Gate as a party symbol. It was used to enter the city and the part of wall which surrounds the city and during the Cold War and the time where Berlin was split between east and west was remained the symbol of peace, the gate is situated at no-man’s land. It is just behind the wall, the gate was opened on December 22, 1989 after the fall off wall. Every year on New Year’s Eve, the Brandenburg Gate becomes a focal point for celebrations with live bands. The Gate located in city at the end of the outer den Linden Avenue and this gate is situated on Pariser Platz and is very short distance from German House of Parliament-Reichstag. Here is famous Hotel Adlon and British and US Embassies. Just south of Pariser Platz one can find the Holocaust Memorial. The gate has been closed for traffic and much of Pariser Platz has been turned into a cobblestone pedestrian zone. The gate along with the broad Straße des 17. Juni avenue to the west, is also one of the gathering points in Berlin where over a million people gather to watch a stage show, party and see fireworks go off at midnight on New Year's Eve.
002-RECHSTAG -The Reichstag is the seat of Federal Government of Germany and was constructed from 1884-1894 after the founding of German empire in 1872.It is a 450ft long and 318ft high building in Neo-Renaissance style. The building was mainly funded with wartime reparation money from France, a result of Prussia's defeat of France in 1871. The famous inscription 'Dem Deutschen Volke' (To the German People) was added later, in 1916, by Emperor Wilhelm II. The bronze letters were cast from seized French cannons. After the war, the Reichstag ended up in West Berlin, right near the Berlin Wall. It was reconstructed between 1958 and 1972 but the central dome and most of the ornamentation were removed. During Berlin's division the West German parliament assembled here once a year as a way to indicate that Bonn was only a temporary capital. In 1999, after the unification the Germany’s Parliament moved from Bonn to Berlin and renovation started in 1995 and completed in 1999, during this reconstruction, the original dome was replaced by a modern glass dome over the plenary hall. At first the subject of much controversy, but now the dome become one of the city's most recognized landmarks. Since 1999 the building serves as Germany’s seat of Parliament. It is now the seat of the lower German Parliament, Bundestag .It is possible during weekdays to see parliament secessions. The room where the Parliament sits is below the dome and is surrounded by glass, making it visible to the public from all sides .There is a magnificent engraved eagle suspended over the main floor. An elevator brings you to the roof and you can walk all the way to the top of the dome via a spiral walkway. The Reichtag building was on the borders of Berlin wall. At the base of the dome is an exhibit on the Reichstag’s history. The building is surrounded by ultra-modern buildings in the Government district. If you like to visit the dome but have not booked in advance, you can register to do so at the service centre run by the Visitors’ Service near the Reichstag Building, next to the Berlin Pavilion on the south side of Scheidemannstraße. If any free places are still available, you will be issued a booking confirmation entitling you to visit the dome; please note that this must be issued a minimum of two hours before the time of your visit. You can also register to visit the dome in the following two days. The service centre does not accept bookings for visits more than two days in advance. To book your visit to the dome, you will need to provide the following information: your last name, first name and date of birth. The booking confirmation is issued to you personally and is non-transferable. You will be asked for proof of identity both upon registration and at the main entrance for visitors. The Service Centre is open from 8.00 to 18.00 hrs daily in winter (1 November - 31 March) and from 8.00 to 20.00 hrs daily in summer (1 April - 31 October). The rooftop restaurant east of the dome is open daily from 09.00 to 16.30 hrs and from 18.30 hrs to midnight.
003-HOLOCOUST MEMORIAL (Monuments to the Murdered Jews)-This memorial is a tribute to the Jews that died before and during WWII and as part of Hitler’s plan to exterminate Jews by the Third Reich. It was dedicated after 60 years of the fall of the Nazi. It took a year to complete and opened in December 2004 to public. It is an undulating forest of 2711 grey stone slabs of concrete that bears no markings, such as name or dates, each of a different size in 19,000 square meters –called-steles they are of varying heights from 0.20 m to 4.80 m except for their dimensions as all the blocks are identical (some are only ankle high while others towers over visitors) to create a grid like structure. The paths are also undulated as well. It was created to have a feeling of groundlessness and instability, a sense of distortion. The designer succeeded in his work. Visitors can enter the structure from all four sides and the wave-like shape of each side is perceived in different manner depending on where one is. There is an underground information centre where visitors can learn about the victims of the Holocoust and various places of horror. It is also close to the bunker where Hitler committed suicide.
004 -BERLIN WALL -Until 1961, East Germans moves freely between the Western and Eastern parts of Berlin. But many Berlinier were attracted by the prosperous Western side and flocked to West Berlin .On August 12, 1961, the East Germans authorities decided to close the borders around the Western sectors of Berlin in order to prevent people from fleeing .The wall was 3.6 meters high and with 302 watchtowers controlled by guards and 22 bunkers along 155 kms long wall. In August 13, 1961 the construction of wall began to close the border between East (Soviet occupied) and West Berlin (occupied by the Americans, British and French).Most of the Berlin Wall has been demolished since the border between east and West Berlin was opened in 1989. The fall of the Wall marked the definitive end of its dictatorship .The Berlin Wall enclosed West Berlin from August 13, 1961 to November 9, 1989, cutting a line through the entire city centre. The West people referred to the border strip as the “death strip” because so many people were killed there while trying to flee from East Berlin .At present the wall’s 1316 meters long on East Side Gallery is still standing .It is located along Muhlenstrasse between Warschauer Strasse and the Ostbahnhof and contains 106 paintings.
005 -CHECKPOINTS CHARLIE-The Berlin wall was erected in 1961 by the East German Government. Checkpoint Charlie was a crossing point in the Berlin Wall located at the junction of Friedrichstraße with Zimmerstraße and Mauerstraße, (which for older historical reasons coincidentally means 'Wall Street'). It is in the Friedrichstadt neighbourhood. It was ordered to US Force to build three checkpoints in the wall through which diplomatic corps and allied forces could enter West Berlin .The Checkpoint Charlie became the most famous .It got its name from the American alphabet (Alpha ,Brava, Charlie).This is the point from where visitors can cross the Berlin from West to East and back again. Checkpoint Charlie became a symbol of the Cold War, representing the separation of east and west. Soviet and American tanks briefly faced each other at the location during the Berlin Crisis of 1961.Checkpoint Charlie was removed in June 22, 1990, when reunification was almost complete today ,it became a tourist attraction , a line of bricks traces the path where the Berlin Wall once stood . A copy of the guard house and sign that once marked the border crossing was later built where Checkpoint Charlie once was. It resembles the first guard house erected during 1961, behind a sandbag barrier towards the border. The two Soldiers (one American and one Russian) represented at the Checkpoint Memorial were both stationed in Berlin during the early 1990s.
006- GERMAN CHANCELLERY-The spectacular architectural ensemble of the new German Chancellery is one of the most impressive structures in the newly created government district. It was due to the Bundestag decided in 1991 to move the capital from Bonn back to Berlin .The German Chancellery, which is integrated in the “bond of the federation” consists of central part having nine story and an executive building in addition to shorter, long wings. The distinguishing characteristic of the executive building is the 18 meter high semi-circle, located in the upper part of the, facade. The glass facades of the German Chancellery, more than anything else, give off the impression of transparency, twelve meter soft stelas, which at first glance look like columns, give structure to the glass facades. Inside the wings of the German Chancellery are located the offices of employees while the executive building is more for prestigious purposes. The entrance hall has the dimensions of a cathedral. The reception level of the Chancellor with its transparent design and balconies offers a wonderful view of the Tiergarten.
007-THE UNTER DEN LINDEN-This prestigious boulevard leads from the Schlossbrücke at the Museum Island to Unter den Linden. Duke Friedrich Wilhelm, also known as The Great Elector, was dedicated to the development and beautification of Berlin during his reign in the mid-1600s. In order to spruce up the route from his castle home to the Tiergarten hunting ground, it is said that Friedrich ordered the planting of long rows of Linden Trees, which would also serve to keep the route more shady and comfortable for his travels. Nearly a century later, Friedrich II expanded the boulevard by adding his collection of cultural buildings to the area, including the Berlin State Opera House and the State Library, making Unter den Linden larger and even more popular. By the 19th century, it was one of the most visited streets in the city and served as a central gathering place for many Berlin citizens. After the victory over Napoleon, the street was furnished with large, new buildings - including the neo-classical Neue Wache, which served as the guardhouse for the royal guards and is now the National Memorial to the Victims of War and Tyranny. A lot of statues standing in homage to the great generals of the German army were also erected .One statue still standing today is the impressive equestrian statue of Friedrich II. After the war the statue relocated by the rulers of the GDR but now it has its place again at the centre of Unter den Linden. There are the expansive Humboldt University, the Zeughaus (German Historical Museum), the Staatsoper, Altes Palais, Staatsbibliothek and the Schloßbrücke (Palace Bridge), at the far eastern end of this road.
008-BERLINER DOME( Berlin Cathedral )-It is a cathedral build between 1894 to 1905, it is located on an island in the river Spree, known as Museum Island in Mitte borough, constructed by Prussias Family in reign of Kaiser Wilhelm II. It was conceived to answer from Protestants to the catholic St Basilica of Rome with its 70 meters high dome. It is 114mts long and 73mts wide building. The Berlin Cathedral has never been a cathedral in the actual sense of term as it has never been the seat of Bishop. The most interesting item is the richly decorated interior of the church and its pipe organs, which have more than 7000 pipes. A portico with granite staircase stands before the monumental two-story main front .It has 270 steps with a view of Museum Island, Synagogue, Gendarmenmarkt, the Reichstag and Rotes Rathaus. Admission=7Euro.
009-MUSEUM ISLAND (Kulturforum)-The five museums that comprise Berlin's famous Museum Island are located between the Spree River and the Kupfergraben. The group of museums started with King Friedrich Wilhelm III who commissioned the construction of the Royal Museum - now the Altes Museum - in 1830. The museum was built to allow the general public to view the royal art treasures of Germany. The year 1876 saw the completion of the Old National Gallery. Alte Nationalmuseum, at the Museum Island, Berlin. Sadly, nearly 70% of the buildings were destroyed during World War II and, after the war, the collections were split up between East and West Berlin. At the end of the 20th century a reconstruction and re-modernization program was started, designed to restore all five museums. The group of five museums are -
i- ALTES MUSEUM ( Old museum/Royale Museum)-Built in 1830 and it is for the collection of antiques and gold treasury , the portrait of Caesar and Cleopatra can be seen here. The museum was restored and reopened in 1966; the Old Museum (Altes Museum) now houses ancient Greek and Roman artefacts though it was originally built to display the treasures of the royal family. Built by the city's greatest architect, the building resembles a Greek Corinthian Temple.
ii- NEUES MUSEUM-Built in 1843-59, here the most famous artefact is the bust of Queen Nefertiti which was discovered in 1912 and dates back to 1360BC is displayed. The Neues Museum reopened in 2009 and houses a collection of prehistoric, early history and Egyptian works of Art. It has been connected to the Altes Museum via a walkway.
iii-BODE MUSEUM-The Bode Museum reopened in 2006 after almost 10 years of renovation.The impressive three-winged museum complex is located on the northern-most tip of the island, directly alongside the Spree River. Seen from the water, the museum gives the impression of a gigantic ship above the waterline. At the museum, three separate collections of : the sculpture collection (sculptures from the Early Middle Ages to the late 18th century), the Museum for Byzantine Art (art from the West-Roman and Byzantine Empires from the 3rd to the 15th century) and the Coin Cabinet, complemented by a gallery specifically for children. Highlights at the Museum for Byzantine Art are the sarcophagi dating back to late Antiquity and fragments of sarcophagi from Rome, sculptures from the East-Roman Empire and precious ivory carvings and mosaic icons attributed to Byzantine court art. Greek and Roman coins from Antiquity, Islamic-oriental coins, as well as mediaeval currency from the Eastern European area are found in the extensive collection on show in the Coin Cabinet.
iv-ALTE NATIONALGALERIE- Built in 1867-76 and the Old National Gallery (Alte Nationalgalerie) re-opened in 2001. It owns one of the largest collections of 19th century sculpture and paintings in Germany. Highlights of the Sculpture Collection include the famous "Two Princesses", a statue depicting Princesses Luise and Friederike. Another of the gallery's showpieces is Adolph von Menzel's famous work "The Balcony Room" from 1845. The exhibition also features other masterpieces by Adolph von Menzel, Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Caspar David Friedrich, Paul Cézanne, Auguste Rodin, Anselm Feuerbach, Arnold Böcklin, Hans von Marées, Max Liebermann and Lovis Corinth.
v- PERGAMON MUSEUM- This museum was completed in 1930.It was made for the collections from Germans excavations throughout the world. It does not houses any objects, it houses buildings, streets and temples. In the Pergamon Museum one will find collection of Greek and Babylonian antiques including the striking reconstructions of archaeological buildings – the Pergamon Altar of Zeus, Roman Market Gate of Milet and Ishtar Gate with the Processional Way of Babylon and the Mshatta façade. It is divided into three sections-i-Antiquity Collection ii-Islamic Art Museum iii-East Museum .The collections from Persia, Babylonia and Asssyrai are finest. The Pergamon Altar (180 -160BC),which is so huge that it requires an entire room .The treasury of classical coin art with its selection of coins from the Coin Cabinet also reopened in October 2009.
i- ALTES MUSEUM ( Old museum/Royale Museum)-Built in 1830 and it is for the collection of antiques and gold treasury , the portrait of Caesar and Cleopatra can be seen here. The museum was restored and reopened in 1966; the Old Museum (Altes Museum) now houses ancient Greek and Roman artefacts though it was originally built to display the treasures of the royal family. Built by the city's greatest architect, the building resembles a Greek Corinthian Temple.
ii- NEUES MUSEUM-Built in 1843-59, here the most famous artefact is the bust of Queen Nefertiti which was discovered in 1912 and dates back to 1360BC is displayed. The Neues Museum reopened in 2009 and houses a collection of prehistoric, early history and Egyptian works of Art. It has been connected to the Altes Museum via a walkway.
iii-BODE MUSEUM-The Bode Museum reopened in 2006 after almost 10 years of renovation.The impressive three-winged museum complex is located on the northern-most tip of the island, directly alongside the Spree River. Seen from the water, the museum gives the impression of a gigantic ship above the waterline. At the museum, three separate collections of : the sculpture collection (sculptures from the Early Middle Ages to the late 18th century), the Museum for Byzantine Art (art from the West-Roman and Byzantine Empires from the 3rd to the 15th century) and the Coin Cabinet, complemented by a gallery specifically for children. Highlights at the Museum for Byzantine Art are the sarcophagi dating back to late Antiquity and fragments of sarcophagi from Rome, sculptures from the East-Roman Empire and precious ivory carvings and mosaic icons attributed to Byzantine court art. Greek and Roman coins from Antiquity, Islamic-oriental coins, as well as mediaeval currency from the Eastern European area are found in the extensive collection on show in the Coin Cabinet.
iv-ALTE NATIONALGALERIE- Built in 1867-76 and the Old National Gallery (Alte Nationalgalerie) re-opened in 2001. It owns one of the largest collections of 19th century sculpture and paintings in Germany. Highlights of the Sculpture Collection include the famous "Two Princesses", a statue depicting Princesses Luise and Friederike. Another of the gallery's showpieces is Adolph von Menzel's famous work "The Balcony Room" from 1845. The exhibition also features other masterpieces by Adolph von Menzel, Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Caspar David Friedrich, Paul Cézanne, Auguste Rodin, Anselm Feuerbach, Arnold Böcklin, Hans von Marées, Max Liebermann and Lovis Corinth.
v- PERGAMON MUSEUM- This museum was completed in 1930.It was made for the collections from Germans excavations throughout the world. It does not houses any objects, it houses buildings, streets and temples. In the Pergamon Museum one will find collection of Greek and Babylonian antiques including the striking reconstructions of archaeological buildings – the Pergamon Altar of Zeus, Roman Market Gate of Milet and Ishtar Gate with the Processional Way of Babylon and the Mshatta façade. It is divided into three sections-i-Antiquity Collection ii-Islamic Art Museum iii-East Museum .The collections from Persia, Babylonia and Asssyrai are finest. The Pergamon Altar (180 -160BC),which is so huge that it requires an entire room .The treasury of classical coin art with its selection of coins from the Coin Cabinet also reopened in October 2009.
010-OTHER BUILDINGS AT MUSEUM ISLAND
i-There are also a number of other important buildings on the island. One of them is the Berlin’s Dom, a protestant Cathedral, built at the end of the 18th century as the counterpart of the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
ii-Right next to the cathedral stood the Stadtschloss, an enormous 19th century palace. In 1950, the building - which was considered a symbol of Prussian militarism - was demolished by the East Germans and in 1976 it was replaced by the Palast der Republik which, in turn, was also demolished, in 2006, after the reunification of Germany. In 2007 a project to rebuild the Stadtschloss, which will be called 'Humboldtforum', was approved by the parliament.
iii- Adjacent to the former palace is the Marstall, the royal stables. The large Baroque building is just a wing of the former complex that was built in 1669 by the Dutch architect Michael Matthias Smids. The building is now used as a library and archive.
i-There are also a number of other important buildings on the island. One of them is the Berlin’s Dom, a protestant Cathedral, built at the end of the 18th century as the counterpart of the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
ii-Right next to the cathedral stood the Stadtschloss, an enormous 19th century palace. In 1950, the building - which was considered a symbol of Prussian militarism - was demolished by the East Germans and in 1976 it was replaced by the Palast der Republik which, in turn, was also demolished, in 2006, after the reunification of Germany. In 2007 a project to rebuild the Stadtschloss, which will be called 'Humboldtforum', was approved by the parliament.
iii- Adjacent to the former palace is the Marstall, the royal stables. The large Baroque building is just a wing of the former complex that was built in 1669 by the Dutch architect Michael Matthias Smids. The building is now used as a library and archive.
011-KURFÜRSTENDAMM-Berlin’s most famous shopping street and Berlin’s version of Chams-Elysees or 5th Avenue of the Berlin. The 3.5 kms long boulevard leads from Breitscheidplatz with the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Charlottenburg as far as Rathenauplatz in Grunewald, where the exclusive villa quarter of the West Berlin City begins.
012-TIERGARTEN-It is the largest park in Berlin with its area of 2.5km2.It was the hunting ground for the rulers of Brandeburg .It has more than 23km of pathways and so many lakes. It is the centre of Siegessaule and other Sculpture .It also houses Berlin Zoo, Bellevue Palace. On the border lies Kulturforum and Potsdamer Platz and on the western side of the park is the Zoologic Garden. The best way to see is from Brandenburg Gate dow Strasse des 17.Juni.This road takes directly to Siegessaule, which is in the centre of the park.
013-SEGESSAULE-It is a tall victory column 69m high, located in the centre of a large park Tiegarten, in the centre of Berlin built from 1864 to 1873. On the top of column there is a glided statue of Goddess Victory .The victory column was built to commemorate the victory of German-Danish war in 1864, German -Austria war in 1866 and German-France war in 1870.The 8.3mts high bronze sculpture weighing 35 tonnes, represents Victoria wearing an eagle helmet and holding a laurel wreath in one hand and a staff an iron cross, in other hand .The victory column from Roman mythology is analogous to the Greek equivalent of Nike. The base is decorated with bas-reliefs of battles, while a mosaic frieze by Anton von Werner higher up the column depicts the founding of the German Empire in 1871. A number of other mosaics at the colonnaded hall portrait more battle scenes. The top of the Siegessäule has an observatory, offering great views on Berlin. Looking eastward, you can see the Reichstag, the Brandenburger Gate and of course the Fernsehturm.
014 - BERLIN ZOO (Zoologischer Garten ) -This is the one of the largest zoo of the world .It was opened in 1844 and was a gift from the King Fredrich Wilhelm IV, it has around 19,000 animals and 1400 different species and most important collections of the world. It occupies the southwest portion of the Tiergarten. Here animals roam free in their natural habitats. The pandas are the most popular residents of the Berlin Zoo, Howling White Canadian Wolf, and the Berlin Zoo attracting an amazing amount of attention from local media whenever they hit a landmark birthday or other occasion .The Birdhouse is one of the most modern in Europe, having more than 500 species of birds, many of them quite rare. The polar bears were also very popular .Among the other well-known species in the zoo are wolves, gorillas, elephants, seals, zebras, rhinoceros, lions, and orang-utans. There's also an excellent aquarium adjacent to the zoo (one can buy a combo ticket) where one'll find not only fish but also insects, amphibians, and reptiles .The zoo has two entrances, one is situated at the Hardenbergerplatz and is known as the Lion Gate since it is flanked by two small buildings with statues of resting lions. The other entrance, at the Budapester Strasse, is flanked by statues of elephants, appropriately known as the Elephant Gate.
015-SCHLOSS BELLEVUE (PRESIDENT HOUSE)- Situated on an area of 20 hectares (about 50 acres) beside the River Spree, Schloss Bellevue was built for Prince August Ferdinand of Prussia, the younger brother of King Frederick II of Prussia. It sits on the north edge of the large Tiergarten Park and served as the Prince's summer residence. The sparkling white home has the distinction of being the first neo-Classical building constructed in Germany. It consists of a two-story main building, with a central pediment supported by ornate Corinthian columns. The gables feature sandstone figurines depicting Agriculture, Fishing and Hunting. In contrast, the two wings - named "The Ladies' Wing" and "The Spree Wing" - are quite plain .It is currently used for official government receptions but was the site of many magnificent Detail of the Bellevue Palace in Berlin parties during the 19th century .The office building is situated in the park behind the main residence and is not able to be accessed by the general public. Another oval-shaped modern building to the south houses the president's staff.
016- BEBEPLATZ- Bebelplatz was designed in the 18th century as a centre for the arts and science. The square, which is located at the Unter den Linden Boulevard, is lined with a number of grand buildings. King Frederick II ruler of Prussia in 1740 planned to build the centre .Plans for this square included an opera house, an academy, and a royal palace. The area became known as Frederick's Forum and later Opernplatz, as the opera house was the only part of the plan that was completed before the king passed away. It wasn’t until 1947 that the area became known as Bebelplatz, named for August Bebel, a leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany in the 19th century. Three major structures occupy the space around Bebelplatz are the lavish
(i) State Opera House (Staatsoper)- It was completed in1743, this magnificent building is home to the Staatskapelle Berlin, an orchestra with a long, successful history. Modeled after the Pantheon in Rome.
(ii) St. Hedwigs Cathedral-It graces the perimeter of the Bebelplatz. It was built in 1747 and was the first Catholic Church constructed in Germany after the Protestant Reformation. Its shiny green dome is visible from various parts of the city. St. Hedwigs is the Bishops Church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Berlin, making it the most important Catholic church in the city.
(iii) Royal Library (Alte Bibliothek)-It is now part of Humboldt University. The remainder of the college is located across the street on Unter den Linden. Many famous individuals achieved their higher education at Humboldt, including the Grimm Brothers, Karl Marx, and Friedrich Engels. Albert Einstein taught here for nearly 20 years before the Nazi regime began to gain power. The Bebelplatz is sometimes best known for what happened there on May 10, 1933. On that date, the Nazi minister for propaganda and public enlightenment, Joseph Goebbels, organized a nationwide book burning, with more than 20,000 books by Jews, Communists and Pacifists burned on a pyre in the middle of the Bebelplatz. Today, visitors can peer through a glass plate in the ground and view rows of empty bookshelves, a modern monument to that awful day.
(i) State Opera House (Staatsoper)- It was completed in1743, this magnificent building is home to the Staatskapelle Berlin, an orchestra with a long, successful history. Modeled after the Pantheon in Rome.
(ii) St. Hedwigs Cathedral-It graces the perimeter of the Bebelplatz. It was built in 1747 and was the first Catholic Church constructed in Germany after the Protestant Reformation. Its shiny green dome is visible from various parts of the city. St. Hedwigs is the Bishops Church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Berlin, making it the most important Catholic church in the city.
(iii) Royal Library (Alte Bibliothek)-It is now part of Humboldt University. The remainder of the college is located across the street on Unter den Linden. Many famous individuals achieved their higher education at Humboldt, including the Grimm Brothers, Karl Marx, and Friedrich Engels. Albert Einstein taught here for nearly 20 years before the Nazi regime began to gain power. The Bebelplatz is sometimes best known for what happened there on May 10, 1933. On that date, the Nazi minister for propaganda and public enlightenment, Joseph Goebbels, organized a nationwide book burning, with more than 20,000 books by Jews, Communists and Pacifists burned on a pyre in the middle of the Bebelplatz. Today, visitors can peer through a glass plate in the ground and view rows of empty bookshelves, a modern monument to that awful day.
017- SCHLOSS CHARLOTTENBUR PALACE-This is the largest and most beautiful palace of Berlin. It was built from 1695-99 as a summer residence for Sophie Charlotte. The palace with its superbly decorated halls and its high-class art collection, for the wife of Frederick III. Taking a walk through the beautiful baroque park is a cultural experience of its own all the year round. Here you can find for example of the impressive mausoleum of Queen Luise as well as the former tea house Belvedere, which houses exquisite porcelain objects.
018 - BERLIN TOWN HALL (Rotes Rathaus)-This is a red building of town hall in Mitte district near Alexanderplatz. It is home to the governing Mayor and the Senate of Berlin. The current structure is the fifth town hall built at this site, where the original town hall was erected in the 13th century. The large structure was built between 1861 and 1867 and replaced an earlier city hall that had become too small for the growing metropolis. The design of the city hall's iconic tower was clearly inspired by the towers of the Gothic Laon Cathedral in France. After its reconstruction between 1951 and 1958 the Rotes Rathaus became the city hall of East Berlin. West Berlin's city council meanwhile was housed in the Rathaus Schöneberg. In 1991, after the end of the Cold War, the Rotes Rathaus once again became the official city hall for the reunified Berlin. A thorough renovation of the historic building, which started in 2005, was completed five years later. At the centre of the esplanade in front of the Rotes Rathaus is a large fountain known as the Neptunbrunnen (Neptune Fountain). The neo-baroque fountain, decorated with bronze statues, was created between 1886 and 1891.At the centre of the fountain is a statue of Neptune, who overlooks a large basin where four female figures symbolize Prussia's most important rivers: the Rhine, the Elbe, the Oder and the Vistula.
019-THE NEUE SYONAGOUGE It was built as the main synagogue of the Berlin Jewish community. Construction of the 'New Synagogue' started in 1859 and it was completed 7 years later. It is Moorish style and resembles to Alhambra. When opened in 1866 as German's largest synagogue, the magnificent and sumptuous Neue Synagogue was the symbol of the Jewish community in Berlin. Situated in the Scheunenviertel district (Barn Quarter), it lies in the heart of the then large Jewish district. During the infamous Kristallnacht pogrom on 9-10 November 1938, the synagogue was desecrated and like many other synagogues set on fire by the Nazis. The reconstruction of the synagogue started in 1988. Seven years later, in May 1995, the reconstructed synagogue was finally completed.
020 -THE GEDACHTNISKIRCHE (Memorial Church)- A modern church build in 1959-60 which surrounds the destroyed church as a reminder of WWII .This works as worship place also it houses the exhibition of Jewish history. The Protestant Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is located in Berlin on the Kurfürstendamm in the centre of the Breitscheidplatz. The original church on the site was built in the 1890s. It was badly damaged in a bombing raid in 1943. The present building, which consists of a church with an attached foyer and a separate belfry with an attached chapel, was built between 1959 and 1963. The damaged spire of the old church has been retained and its ground floor has been made into a memorial hall. Kaiser Wilhelm II decided to name the church in honour of his grandfather Kaiser Wilhelm I. The foundation stone was laid on March 22, 1891, which was Wilhelm I's birthday. The spire was 370feet high and the nave seated over 2,000 people. The church was consecrated on September 1, 1895. In the Second World War, on the night of November 23, 1943, the church was irreparably damaged in an air raid. The church was largely destroyed but part of the spire and much of the entrance hall survived. The new church was designed and consists of four buildings grouped around the remaining ruins of the old church. The initial design included the demolition of the spire of the old church but following pressure from the public, it was decided to incorporate it into the new design. The four buildings comprise, on the west of the ruins, the new church with a foyer to its west, and to the east of the ruins, a tower with a chapel to its northeast .The new buildings are constructed of concrete, steel and glass. The walls of the church are made of a concrete honeycomb containing 21,292 stained glass inlays. The glass was inspired by the colours of the glass in Chartres Cathedral. The predominant colour is blue, with small areas of ruby red, emerald green and yellow. The church is 35 meters in diameter and 20.5 meters high with a capacity of over 1,000. Because of the distinctive appearance of the new buildings, it is sometimes nicknamed "Lippenstift und Puderdose” (the lipstick and the powder box) by Berliners. The tower is 12 meters in diameter and 53.5 meters high with a flat roof. Atop the tower is a pole carrying a gilded sphere above which is a gilded cross. It contains a belfry with six bronze bells cast from French cannon, booty from the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71.In December 2007, Charles Jeffrey Gray, a former British pilot who carried out World War II bombing raids over Germany, joined a campaign to rescue the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church from decay.
021- O2 World The O2 World is a multi-use indoor arena in the Friedrichshain neighbourhood of Berlin near & opposite Berlin Wall that opened in September 2008. With a capacity of 17,000 people, it is home to the Eisbären Berlin ice hockey club and the ALBA Berlin basketball team, and is used for other ice hockey, basketball and handball matches as well as concerts. The surrounding area is filled with various entertainment venues including a cinema, a casino, a hotel and various bars and restaurants. The arena hosted the 2008–09 Euroleague Final four .Britney Spears performed a concert on 26 July 2009 during The Circus Starring- Britney Spears. Kylie Minogue performed her spectacular Aphrodite World Tour on 1 March 2011.Madonna performed during her MDNA Tour on two sold out nights in June 2012.Lady Gaga performed her Born This Way Ball in September 2012 for one night. Jennifer Lopez performed during her Dance Again World Tour in October 2012 for one night. Beyoncé performed on 23 and 24 May 2013, with her Mrs. Carter Show.
022 -STATUE OF FREDERICK THE GREAT- The 13.5m statue sits on the Unter den Linden between The State Library and Humboldt University .The statue was completed in 1851.It is a three tiered pedestal. The Reiterdenkmal Friedrichs des Grossen (Equestrian Statue of Frederick the Great) is among the grandest in the city. Historians say that it took nearly 70 years, 40 artists, and 100 designs to determine the final plan for the equestrian statue of the much-revered Frederick the Great, who reigned as King of Prussia from 1740 until 1786. Finally, construction of the statue began in Reiterdenkmal Friedrich des Grossen .Frederick sits atop Conde, his favourite horse, dressed in his formal uniform - coronation robes, tri-cornered hat and top boots. He carries a long stick. Statue Frederick II, Berlin The pedestal is three-tiered. The lower part includes 4 tablets emblazoned with the names of 60 men proclaimed to be leading figures in Germany at the time of construction. Just above the tablets are life-sized statues of 4 cavalry commanders, stationed at each corner. They are Prince Henry of Prussia, Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick and Generals Friedrich Wilhelm von Seydlitz and Hans Joachim von Ziethen .On the same level are 21 statues that depict the most outstanding generals of Frederick's army as well as additional statues of other leading figures in politics, art, and science. Closer to Frederick's feet, visitors will find bas-reliefs of scenes from Frederick's life and other figures, such as female allegories representing the virtues of a ruler.
023- HAUPTBANHNHOF (Berlin Central Station)- Berlin Central Station is the main railway station in Berlin. Berlin Central Station is located close to the government district in the heart of Berlin at Europaplatz 1, 10557, Berlin. The Central Station is also a regional train station and has a direct link to Berlin's S-Bahn network. From there it takes about 10 minutes to get to Alexanderplatz or Station Zoo by S-Bahn. It came into full operation two days after a ceremonial opening on 26 May 2006. It is located on the site of the historic Lehrter Bahnhof . In 1995 the construction of the Tiergarten tunnels began and this work was finished in 2005 with the completion of the last station tunnel. The tunnels provide four tubes for long-distance and regional services and two tubes in a separate alignment for the U-Bahn, in addition to a road tunnel ventilated by a 60 meters high tower completed in 2004. During its construction, the course of the Spree had to be diverted (1996–1998).The main station hall is spanned by a curved glass roof with a surface area of about 85 meters by 120 meters , which was installed in February 2002. A photovoltaic system was integrated into the glass surface. The main concourse, supported by two towers, will provide roughly 44,000 square meters of commercial space. Berlin Hauptbahnhof has railway tracks on two levels, running perpendicular with each other. The level between them is used for entry and exit from the building, and for shopping. The upper level (east to west) of the station has six tracks (two of which used for the Berlin S-Bahn) served by three island platforms and is 321 meters long hall. The lower level(north to south) has eight tracks served by four island platforms for main-line trains and is 160meters long hall and 40 meters long concourse, plus a further island platform for the Berlin U-Bahn. A sophisticated system of large openings in the ceilings at all levels allows for natural light to be let in so that it can even reach the lower tracks. There is no rail connection between the upper and lower level track in the station area (or anywhere else nearby). 1,800 trains call at the station per day and the daily number of passengers is estimated to be at 3,50,000.The upper part of the station, with the east-west tracks, is part of the Berlin Stadtbahn, with trains leading to locations like Hanover or Cologne. The subterranean station, which lies in the north-south Tiergarten tunnel, offers long distance services to Hamburg, Leipzig or Munich. Berlin Central Station provides a connection to Schönefeld Airport via the Airport Express trains (RE7 an RB14). They travel between 4.30 a.m. and 11 p.m. in 30-minute intervals. The journey takes around 30 minutes. Train route from this station to are-Amesterdam, Brastilava, Brno, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dresden, Hamburg, Munich, Paris, Prague,Vienna ,Wasrs and Zurich.
024 –FERNSEHTURM (Berlin Television Tower)-Tower of Berlin is the highest publicly accessible building of 368 m tall in Germany and second highest in Europe, built in 1969 .It was inaugurated on 3rd October 1969 just before the 20th anniversary of GDR .It was one of the important symbol to demonstrate the superiority of socialist societies and to show better future in the East. As the GDR since been history, the Berlin TV Tower has been accepted as a landmark for the Germany and become cool symbol of united Berlin .The lift take just 40 seconds to reach 203m height and take a 3600 panoramic view of the Berlin up to 80 km .Online booking can be for the revolving restaurant .The building is 250m high R C C and on the top of it a sphere of steel is kept which is further divide in seven story and in one story the TELECAFE and this situated at level of 207 m ,the café rotates on its axis and takes 30 minutes in one rotation . There is a viewing platform below one level of the restaurant, at level of 203 m. On the tip of the sphere there is a 118 m high steel TV antenna.
025 -THE NEUE WACHE-It is the memorial for those who fell in the Napoleonic war from 1818 to 1918 and an eternal flame burned in the centre of the chamber. The Neue Wache is a building in central Berlin. It is located on the north side of the Unter den Linden, a major east-west thoroughfare in the centre of the city. Dating from 1816, the Neue Wache was built as a guardhouse for the troops of the Crown Prince of Prussia, the building has been used as a war memorial since 1931.King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia ordered the construction of the Neue Wache as a guard house for the nearby Palace of the Crown Prince, to replace the old Artillery Guard House .The building has a portico of Doric columns, free on all sides, is approximately the shape of a Roman cast rum, thus the four sturdier corner towers and the inner courtyard." The statuary in the pediment of the building is intended as a memorial to Prussia's role in the Napoleonic Wars. It shows Nike, the goddess of victory, deciding a battle .The building served as a royal guard house until the end of World War I and the fall of the German monarchy in 1918. The Neue Wache was then known as the "Memorial for the Fallen of the War.”The Unter den Linden was located within the Soviet zone of occupation of Berlin, and after 1949 was part of the communist German Democratic Republic. In 1960 the repaired Neue Wache was reopened as a Memorial to the Victims of Fascism and Militarism. In 1969, the 20th anniversary of the GDR, a glass prism structure with an eternal flame was placed in centre of the hall. The remains of an unknown soldier and of an unknown concentration camp victim from World War II were enshrined in the building .This sculpture is directly under the oculus and so is exposed to the rain, snow and cold of the Berlin climate, symbolizing the suffering of civilians during World War II.
026-WORLD TIME CLOCK BERLIN (Weltzeituhr)- The World Time Clock is one of the Alexanderplatz's most well-known features. It was constructed in 1969 as part of the square's redevelopment and has become a popular meeting point. Weighing 16 tonnes and 10 metres tall, it features a rotating cylinder (numbered from 01 to 24 for time zones) with an etched coloured aluminium plates showing world's 24 time zones bearing the names of major cities in each zone. The mechanism constructed in a way which enables the current time in each zone to be read. The clock is topped by a simplified model of the solar system symbolizes the planet in their orbit, which revolves once a minute. It is popular meeting place in Alexanderplatz.
027-ALEXANDERPLATZ- It is the Berlin’s most famous square named after Alexander I in 1805.The name of the Plaza is from the visit of Czar. It is called “Alex”. Most of the buildings on the square were destroyed by allied bombing during WWII .After the war it became the centre of East-Berlin and showcase of socialist architecture. This resulted in some plain bulky buildings and a huge television tower with other buildings. It is bordered by train Station, Galeria Kaufh of Departmental Store and a 37-story Park Inn Berlin Alexanderplatz Hotel .The square is home to the Fernsehtrum (T V Tower) which dominates the square, it also home to the World Time Clock (1969). And at the south corner the Fountain of International Friendship is a 23 m wide circular fountain and there is also a mall named ALEXA. Already Alexanderplatz station with its three floors is an interesting shopping area.
028-POTSDAMER PLATZ -Potsdamer Platz is an important public square and traffic intersection in the centre of Berlin, Germany, lying about 1 km south of the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag and close to the southeast corner of the Tiergarten park. It is named after the city of Potsdam, and marks the point where the old road from Potsdam passed through the city wall of Berlin at the Potsdam Gate. Since German reunification, Potsdamer Platz has been the site of major redevelopment projects. Potsdamer Platz began as a trading post where several country roads converged just outside Berlin's old customs wall. The heyday of Potsdamer Platz was in the 1920s and 1930s. By this time it had developed into the busiest traffic centre in all of Europe and the heart of Berlin's nightlife. It had acquired an iconic status, on a par with Piccadilly Circus in London or Times Square in New York. It represented the geographical centre of the city, the meeting place of five of its busiest streets in a star-shaped intersection deemed the transport hub of the entire continent. After the fall of the Berlin wall, it was decided to rebuild this area. The project included the construction of several landmarks towers, a shopping arcade and entertainment centre and residential buildings.
029 -POSDAM- Postdam was the capitol of the Brandeburg state and was not the part of Berlin. It is about 25 km from Berlin. Most of Postdam sights were built in 18th and 19th century when the city was the residence of the Prussian King. During the Friedrich William, Postdam became garrison city and a royal seat of the Prussian Kingdom. His son Friedrich II built the famous Sanssouci Castle and the Neues Palasis in the Sanssoouci Park. Due to large numbers of religious refugees and immigrants, different settlements can be seen here and very popular in tourists. Hollanddisches (Dutch Immigrants), Alexandrowka (Russian Town).Out of five city gates only 3 are remains .The city is best known for its castles .There is also a Filmpark Babelberg where most famous Germany films were created like The Blue Angles.
i-PARK SANSSOUCI- It is a former summer palace of Friedrich II of Prussia, the Prussian King .The palace is located in Postdam, near Berlin .The palaces regarded as a rival to Versailles. It was completed in 1747 and situated on a hill .The palace was decorated with large pools, wine garden and flowers. After WWII Friedrich body was returned to his palace and was buried in the cemetery .This palace is a complex of 700 acres and covers 150 large and small buildings and a palace garden .The Palace is small with only 12 rooms and located on the top of terraced vineyard, the palace is only one storey high but beautifully decorated in rococo style. There is a large fountain in front of the palace which is 18 meters high .The Neues Palais, Communs, Chinese Teahouse, Friedenskirche (Church of Peace) are good buildings in the complex . Admission=19Euro.
ii- CECILIENHOF PALACE -It was the last palace of the Hohenzollern family. Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany had it erected for his son, Crown Prince Wilhelm Of Germany. Built between 1914-1917.It is made of brick and oak timber having six court yard and 55 chimneys tops. In this building Postdam Conference was held between 17 July and 2nd August 1945. Winston Churchill , Joseph Stalin, Harry S Truman met at the round table in the great hall .Queen Elizabeth II visited on 3rd Nov 2004 and used on 30.05.2007 for G8 Foreign Minister summit .
iii-FILMPARK BABELBERG- Another attraction in Potsdam is the Filmpark Babelberg. This is where some of Germany's most famous films were created, including the 1927 masterpiece Metropolis and the 1930 The Blue Angel, a movie featuring Marlene Dietrich. At the time, it was Europe's Hollywood. After the Nazis came to power, many actors and artists moved to the US. One can visit the film sets from old films, including the submarine U-boat. The park also features stuntmen and a display of special effects.
i-PARK SANSSOUCI- It is a former summer palace of Friedrich II of Prussia, the Prussian King .The palace is located in Postdam, near Berlin .The palaces regarded as a rival to Versailles. It was completed in 1747 and situated on a hill .The palace was decorated with large pools, wine garden and flowers. After WWII Friedrich body was returned to his palace and was buried in the cemetery .This palace is a complex of 700 acres and covers 150 large and small buildings and a palace garden .The Palace is small with only 12 rooms and located on the top of terraced vineyard, the palace is only one storey high but beautifully decorated in rococo style. There is a large fountain in front of the palace which is 18 meters high .The Neues Palais, Communs, Chinese Teahouse, Friedenskirche (Church of Peace) are good buildings in the complex . Admission=19Euro.
ii- CECILIENHOF PALACE -It was the last palace of the Hohenzollern family. Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany had it erected for his son, Crown Prince Wilhelm Of Germany. Built between 1914-1917.It is made of brick and oak timber having six court yard and 55 chimneys tops. In this building Postdam Conference was held between 17 July and 2nd August 1945. Winston Churchill , Joseph Stalin, Harry S Truman met at the round table in the great hall .Queen Elizabeth II visited on 3rd Nov 2004 and used on 30.05.2007 for G8 Foreign Minister summit .
iii-FILMPARK BABELBERG- Another attraction in Potsdam is the Filmpark Babelberg. This is where some of Germany's most famous films were created, including the 1927 masterpiece Metropolis and the 1930 The Blue Angel, a movie featuring Marlene Dietrich. At the time, it was Europe's Hollywood. After the Nazis came to power, many actors and artists moved to the US. One can visit the film sets from old films, including the submarine U-boat. The park also features stuntmen and a display of special effects.
030-ALEXANDERPLATZ- It is the Berlin’s most famous square. Here is a mall named ALEXA. The Alexanderplatz Station with its three floors is an interesting shopping area. Mainy snack bars are located there offering food from various countries. Moreover, one can buy books, beauty products, newspapers and tobacco products in the station. Also there is a pharmacy, hairdressers and several mobile telephone service shops. Right outside Alexanderplatz Station, a cuboid alike building awaits customers. It is a department store of the German trade chain Galeria Kaufhof which sells a wide range of products, including fashion, beauty products, food, sports equipment, toys and living accessories on five floors. The ground floor is like a large supermarket with food products from all over the world and various counters with readymade meals. In the building right beside, the German fashion chain C&A offers clothing for women, men and children in medium to low price range. Also directly at Alexanderplatz, you'll find Saturn, a big consumer products warehouse with four floors. Saturn offers everything from TVs, cameras, computers to CDs, DVDs and white goods. Only a few minutes away, the big shopping mall Alexa opens its doors. On a space of approximately 46,000 sq.m. Shops from all segments sell their goods. All around Alexanderplatz many service shops can be found- Among them are drugstores, a bank office, dry-cleaners and a post office. The post office is located in building block between the TV Tower and the town hall Rotes Rathaus.
031-ALEXA SHOPPING MALL- The Alexa Shopping Mall is centrally located in the City East near Alexanderplatz. Alexa is one of the largest shopping centres in Berlin and the biggest shopping centre in the City East. Alexa opened in 2007 and with its red concrete facade it is highly visible in between the other, mainly prefab panel housing estates around Alexanderplatz. By the use of red concrete, golden porches and basically no windows the architectures aim was to create an art déco building. More than 50,000 sq. meters shopping area is distributed on five floors. About half of the space is for fashion and accessory shops. Amongst them are popular trade stores as well as more specialized small shops. About a quarter of the space is for bookshops and shops which provide electronic goods, the remaining area are mainly restaurants. Most of them are located at the so-called food court on the fifth floor of Alexa. The concept of Alexa furthermore includes the "Kindercity", an area where children can play the whole day. Another service of Alexa is its huge parking lot in the basement. There, 1,600 parking spaces are available. It is located at Grunerstraße 20, 10179 Berlin and the Alexanderplatz is the underground station.
032-KURFÜRSTENDAMM- Berlin’s most famous shopping street and Berlin’s version of Chams-Elysees or 5th Avenue of the Berlin. Many exclusive fashion labels, in particular, have made their home between Memorial Church and Adenauerplatz – ranging from Lagerfeld via Valentino through to Yves Saint Laurent. Here are numerous boutiques, shops and businesses. It is the most prestigious shopping areas in Berlin .The market was built in 1542 from city palace to the Grunewald hunting lodge.During the past years The Kudamm Corner at the Joachimsthaler Strabe juncture was redeveloped and Berlin Film Palace .The Ka DE We (Das Kaufhaus des Westens) is the biggest store and fabulous top-floor food market and self-service restaurant. Together they comprise an almost five kilometer long boulevard where strolling, shopping and sitting in cafés have been a pleasure for decades.
i-Between KaDeWe and Europacenter- Tauentzien Straße begins at Wittenbergplatz (Underground station) where the famous KaDeWe department store is located. The street runs west towards Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church where the street name changes into Kurfürstendamm. Between KaDeWe and the church, one can find most of the medium-priced international fashion chains and sport brands as well as large shoe stores. Close to the church, the Europacenter hosts another 70 shops and restaurants.
ii-Luxury Labels at Kurfürstendamm-Walking west down Kurfürstendamm the stores become more elegant and exclusive. Set amongst the luxurious hotels, restaurants and cafés are displays windows for international designers and labels including Chanel at Kurfürstendamm 188, Yves Saint Laurent at 52, Luis Vuitton at 56, Cartier at 52, Dolce and Gabbana at 187, Bally at 52, Valentino at 57.
iii-Explore the side Streets-Also worth visiting are the elegant side streets that run north from Kurfürstendamm such as Fasanenstraße , Knesebeckstraße or Bleibtreustraße . Here many chic boutiques and fancy stores can be found on the ground floors of elegant old apartment buildings. These streets also lead to Savignyplatz, an atmospheric square where during summer, hundreds of people can be found sitting in front of bars and restaurants.
i-Between KaDeWe and Europacenter- Tauentzien Straße begins at Wittenbergplatz (Underground station) where the famous KaDeWe department store is located. The street runs west towards Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church where the street name changes into Kurfürstendamm. Between KaDeWe and the church, one can find most of the medium-priced international fashion chains and sport brands as well as large shoe stores. Close to the church, the Europacenter hosts another 70 shops and restaurants.
ii-Luxury Labels at Kurfürstendamm-Walking west down Kurfürstendamm the stores become more elegant and exclusive. Set amongst the luxurious hotels, restaurants and cafés are displays windows for international designers and labels including Chanel at Kurfürstendamm 188, Yves Saint Laurent at 52, Luis Vuitton at 56, Cartier at 52, Dolce and Gabbana at 187, Bally at 52, Valentino at 57.
iii-Explore the side Streets-Also worth visiting are the elegant side streets that run north from Kurfürstendamm such as Fasanenstraße , Knesebeckstraße or Bleibtreustraße . Here many chic boutiques and fancy stores can be found on the ground floors of elegant old apartment buildings. These streets also lead to Savignyplatz, an atmospheric square where during summer, hundreds of people can be found sitting in front of bars and restaurants.
033-KA DE WE- Kaufhaus des Westens (usually abbreviated to Ka De We) is a department store in Berlin. With over 60,000 square meters of selling space and more than 3,80,000 articles available, it is the second-largest department store in Europe, topped by Harrods in London. It attracts 40,000 to 50,000 visitors every day. The store is located on Tauentzienstraße with main entrance, a major shopping street, between Wittenbergplatz and Breitscheidplatz, near the centre of the former West Berlin. It is technically in the extreme northwest of the neighbourhood of Schöneberg. The store was originally founded in 1905 by Adolf Jandorf. It opened on 27 March 1907 with an area of 24,000 sq. meters .Full reconstruction of all seven floors was finished by 1956."Ka De We" soon became a symbol of the regained economic power of West Germany. Ka De We has eight floors, each one focussed on a different type of merchandise. The ground floor is all Beauty Accessories. Some of the services offered include beauty salons as well as nail and foot spas. The so-called "Luxury Boulevard" is also situated here, with Bulgari , Burberry, Cartier, Céline, Chanel, Chopard, Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Hermès, Miu Miu, Montblanc, Longchamp, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Rolex, Tiffany & Co., Tod's, Vertu, Wellendorff and Yves Saint Laurent stores. The 1st floor is Men's Apparel. The 2nd floor is devoted to Women's Fashion. The 3rd floor is referred to as "the Loft" and represents Germany's biggest luxury shoe department. Women's leather goods and lingerie are sold here, too. The 4th floor contains interior and design items, as well as the in-house Wedding and Gift Registry services. The 5th floor is arts, entertainment, electronics, toys, office supplies, and souvenirs. The 6th and 7th floors are entirely devoted to food. The 6th floor is called delicatessen and is famous for its wide variety of food and beverages. It has around 110 cooks and 40 bakers and confectioners supplying more than 30 gourmet counters. The top floor includes a winter garden with a 1000-seat restaurant surrounded by an all windowed wall offering a view over the Wittenbergplatz.
034-POTSDAMER PLATZ Potsdamer Platz is an important public square and traffic intersection in the centre of Berlin. Europe and the heart of Berlin's nightlife. It had acquired an iconic status, on a par with Piccadilly Circus in London or Times Square in New York. It represented the geographical centre of the city; the meeting place of five of its busiest streets in a star-shaped intersection deemed the transport hub of the entire continent. After the fall of the Berlin wall, it was decided to rebuild this area. The project included the construction of several landmarks towers, a shopping arcade and entertainment centre and residential buildings. They are-Debis Tower(by Daimler Benz)-Sony Centre(a complex with Imax theatre and office tower) .One of the busiest crossing of the city, here you will find the restaurant, shopping ,theatre (Theater am Potsdamer Platz) and cinemas and casino also a train station is situated here named Potsdamer Bahnhof, a mall known as Potsdamer Platz Arkaden. The streets which passes the Platz are- i-Königgrätzer Straße (northern portion) - Ebertstraße.
ii- Königgrätzer Straße (southern portion)- Stresemannstraße.
iii- Leipziger Straße, leading east.
iv- Potsdamer Straße.
v- Bellevuestraße.
ii- Königgrätzer Straße (southern portion)- Stresemannstraße.
iii- Leipziger Straße, leading east.
iv- Potsdamer Straße.
v- Bellevuestraße.