In Berlin and Brandenburg a splendid cultural landscape of Palaces and Gardens became established over the course of several centuries of Brandenburg and Prussian monarchy. The harmonic ensembles of architecture and garden art in the cultural landscape enchants the visitors in Berlin and Potsdam. Discover the charm of past times in the beautiful Schloss Charlottenburg with its marvellous baroque garden.
Schloss Charlottenburg, the largest and most beautiful palace in Berlin, is a shining example of baroque architecture.
It was built from 1695–99 as a summer residence for Sophie Charlotte, the consort of Elector Friedrich III., to plans by Johann Arnold Nering and Martin Grünberg, though at first only the central part was actually built. In 1701, after the coronation of the Elector as King Friedrich I. of Prussia, the palace was extended by Eosander von Göthe in the style of the palace at Versailles: the main building was extended and side axes were created around the courtyard. In addition, the Great Orangery was constructed on the western wing, while a domed tower with tambour crowned the main building. Knobelsdorff constructed the eastern wing from 1740–46. From1787–91, Carl Langhans constructed the palace theatre as an extension to the orangery wing.
The palace was badly damaged during the Second World War, and rebuilding work began in the Fifties. The splendor of the Berlin Baroque is particularly apparent in the Great Oak Gallery, a banqueting hall with magnificent carvings which was completed in 1713, and the Porcelain Room, with its valuable collection of Chinese and Japanese porcelain. Other impressive rooms include the banqueting halls designed by Knobelsdorff from 1740–47, the White Room and the Golden Gallery, a rococo room in soft pastel tones with rich golden ornamentation. The former theatre is now the home of the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte (Museum for Pre- and Early History), whose most famous exhibits come from Heinrich Schliemann's excavations at Troy.
The palace park grounds, one of the most idyllic oases in the city, is a favored spot for both tourists and Berliners. The park features a mausoleum constructed by Schinkel in the style of a temple, which contains amongst other the sarcophagi of Queen Luise and Friedrich Wilhelm II., designed by Christian Daniel Rauch. The belvedere, formerly a teahouse and built by Langhans at the same time as the theatre, now displays an exhibition on the history of royal porcelain manufacture. The pavilion constructed by Schinkel in the classical style, formerly a summer house, is the perfect setting for the furniture, pictures and sculptures on display there, conjuring up the life and style of the early 19th century.
A paradisiacal place for lovers is the Peacock Island (Pfaueninsel) and its romantic little manor-house. Pfaueninsel and its palace is without a doubt one of the most lovely excursions in the city. Here, in an undisturbed, idyllic Prussian Arcadia, the visitor can experience one of Berlin's most magical faces.
The romantic palace lies on the idyllic Pfaueninsel, part of the extensive landscape laid out by Peter Joseph Lenné. Until his death, Lenné transformed the area around the Havel Lake between Berlin and Potsdam into a unique ensemble of cultivated nature and architecture. The Pfaueninsel, which can only be reached by ferry, became a work of art consisting of landscaped gardens and park with a rosebush maze, a Biedermeier garden and around 60 peacocks. A stroll around is rewarded with constantly changing views and picture-postcard buildings, such as the old dairy and the cavalier's house redesigned by Schinkel.
Pfaueninsel Palace was constructed from 1794–97 as a love nest for Friedrich Wilhelm III. and his then sweetheart Gräfin Lichtenau. Following the current fashion the architect Johann Gottlieb Brendel created artificial ruins which give the illusion of being a medieval castle. The white wooden cladding and the trompe d'oeil paintings are intended to accentuate this illusion. The palace's interior is furnished in a romantic-exotic style, and is maintained in such a good condition that the taste of the time can be experienced first-hand.
Berlin offers a wide range of possibilities to go out. Restaurants, Pubs and clubs of all kind and for every gusto invite you. Many places and streets are perfect night walks because one restaurant is here next to the other.
Night owls with stamina can also give their undivided attention to the interesting range of pubs around Savignyplatz in Charlottenburg. The area consist of a great number of restaurants and bars where everyone can meet the stars of television or Berlin's culture and political scene. Here is the melting pot that combines symbolically the former west and the new centre to a harmonic construction.
Especially the younger crowd is attracted to the Pariser Straße. At this location you will find taverns, bars, American diners, Mexican restaurants and very modern and stylish discos. During the summer life concentrates on the street in form of many chairs and tables that invite us to rest. In the middle of this street the well-maintained Ludwigkirchplatz with its rich areas of green providing a relaxing shadow is located.
The Winterfeldtplatz forms a location for a frequently visited market where plenty of customers, tourists and locals meet each other in one of Schöneberg's numerous taverns and bars. The scene is considered as uncomplicated and various-faced, also due to the presence of Berlin's gay population.
In Goltzstraße the Schönebergers meet in places such as the Café M, Lux or one of the numerous Indian snack bars. Between Schöneberg and Tiergarten the 90º is still an up-to-date party location. But the Latinamerican Clubs El Barrio or the Caracas Bar invite for a visit as well.
For starting your tour through Berlin's nightlife you shouldn't miss the Hackesche Höfe. Here you will find a huge variety of famous restaurants, bars and clubs. Additionally, Mitte offers numerous facets to enjoy its culture in form of theatres, cinemas, art galleries and a varieté.
For night owls there are, for example, options for the following night walks: Along Oranienburger Straße (Mitte) between Oranienburger Tor and Monbijouplatz there is one bar after the other, such as the Zapata (Tacheles), Zosch, Oren, Silberstein or Hackbarth's.
Representatives of Berlin's legendary club scene, such as the Kalkscheune, are also just around the corner. Thus the famous Tresor is not too far away (Potsdamer/Leipziger Platz).
The Heckmannhöfe and further courtyards worth to see with galleries and cafés are on the way to the legendary Hackescher Markt, which is a hive of activity, not only in the Hackesche Höfe (courtyards) in front of the station. Clubs such as the Oxymoron, Delicious Doughnuts, Lime Club, Bergwerk or Delis attract their public from all over the place. The selection of bars and restaurants is just about the limit.
The Prenzlauer Berg definitely also forms one of the most visited areas at night. Russian and Jewish restaurants are enriching the offer of food styles. Around the Kollwitz-Platz one can almost experience a world trip considering the variety of existing restaurants.
Beginning your tour at Wasserturm and Kollwitzplatz the area around Schönhauser Allee and Greifswalder Straße is one single nightwalk. Whether Torpedokäfer or Café Soda in the Kulturbrauerei, (a vast complex, Knaackstraße), Pasternak or Luna-Bar, the number of Cafés and Pubs is a legend.
Clubs such as Duncker, Knaack or Magnet offer live music, nightlocations such as the Dolmenclub, the Icon, H2O Bar, Prater or Coffy invite you to night dances.
At this location the dishes of truly exclusive restaurants are very delicious. After a special dining experience you can stroll for nobly bars enjoying the unique sight. If you are lucky you even might meet a famous star or politician that is appreciating the Gendarmenmarkt just as well.
Gendarmenmarkt is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe – a must for every tourist. Here the Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral), the Französischer Dom (French Cathedral) and the Konzerthaus create a beautiful architectural ensemble.
The square was laid out from 1688 to the plans of J.A. Nering; it was originally known as Linden Markt, then Friedrichstädtischer Markt or Neuer Markt. Because the square was used by a curassier regiment "gens d´arms," from 1736–82, complete with sentry boxes and stables, the name Gendarmenmarkt arose. From 1777, the square was developed according to unified plans drawn up by Georg Christian Unger. It was badly damaged in the Second World War; on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the Prussian Academy of the Sciences (Akademie der Wissenschaften), it was renamed "Platz der Akademie," but its previous name was restored in 1991.
Französischer Dom (French Cathedral)
The French Cathedral was built from 1701–05 to the designs of Cayart, as a church for Berlin's Huguenot community, thus the reason for its name. The narrow side of the rectangular main building has semicircular extension wings. From 1780–85, the imposing tower was added to plans by Gontard and Unger as part of the redesigning of Gendarmenmarkt. The cathedral, which was badly damaged in the war, was rebuilt from 1977.
Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral)
From 1701–08, the German Cathedral – also known as the New Church – was built by Giovanni Simonetti to plans to M. Grünberg. From 1780–85, Carl von Gontard extended the building with the addition of the domed tower, during the redesigning of the Gendarmenmarkt. The cathedral was destroyed in the Second World War and reopened on October 2, 1996 following complete restoration.
The Konzerthaus is the new building designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel to replace the Nationaltheater built from 1800–02 by Karl Gotthard Langhans, which was burnt to the ground in 1817. The conception of the Konzerthaus integrates the remains of Langhan's rectangular building and adds a higher, wider, gabled solidium in the center, complete with an ionic columned hall projecting at the front. Following its destruction in the Second World War, the building was initially only made safe, and the systematic restoration of the original design only began in 1979. Since its reopening in 1984 it has served not as a theatre, but as a concert hall.
In the small lanes of the historical Nikolaiviertel (Nikolai quarter) the traditional Berlin returns to life. Mitte's taverns and bars are waking local traditions due to their old-fashioned atmosphere and the typical homemade dishes served. Especially tourists are appreciating this part of Berlin for its direct position beside the Spree River and for its numerous souvenir shops. The pictured Nikolai-church with its roots form the 13th century is one of Berlin's oldest maintained religious buildings.
Gendarmenmarkt is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe – a must for every tourist. Here the Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral), the Französischer Dom (French Cathedral) and the Konzerthaus create a beautiful architectural ensemble.
The square was laid out from 1688 to the plans of J.A. Nering; it was originally known as Linden Markt, then Friedrichstädtischer Markt or Neuer Markt. Because the square was used by a curassier regiment "gens d´arms," from 1736–82, complete with sentry boxes and stables, the name Gendarmenmarkt arose. From 1777, the square was developed according to unified plans drawn up by Georg Christian Unger. It was badly damaged in the Second World War; on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the Prussian Academy of the Sciences (Akademie der Wissenschaften), it was renamed "Platz der Akademie," but its previous name was restored in 1991.
Französischer Dom (French Cathedral)
The French Cathedral was built from 1701–05 to the designs of Cayart, as a church for Berlin's Huguenot community, thus the reason for its name. The narrow side of the rectangular main building has semicircular extension wings. From 1780–85, the imposing tower was added to plans by Gontard and Unger as part of the redesigning of Gendarmenmarkt. The cathedral, which was badly damaged in the war, was rebuilt from 1977.
Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral)
From 1701–08, the German Cathedral – also known as the New Church – was built by Giovanni Simonetti to plans to M. Grünberg. From 1780–85, Carl von Gontard extended the building with the addition of the domed tower, during the redesigning of the Gendarmenmarkt. The cathedral was destroyed in the Second World War and reopened on October 2, 1996 following complete restoration.
The Konzerthaus is the new building designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel to replace the Nationaltheater built from 1800–02 by Karl Gotthard Langhans, which was burnt to the ground in 1817. The conception of the Konzerthaus integrates the remains of Langhan's rectangular building and adds a higher, wider, gabled solidium in the center, complete with an ionic columned hall projecting at the front. Following its destruction in the Second World War, the building was initially only made safe, and the systematic restoration of the original design only began in 1979. Since its reopening in 1984 it has served not as a theatre, but as a concert hall.
In the meantime the Simon–Dach–Straße has proved to be 'the' place to be in Friedrichshain. The avant-garde is meeting in bars, taverns and clubs that attract visitors for their different life style.
Between Ostbahnhof and Ostkreuz, you will find something of everything: on the one hand "scene" clubs, such as the well-known Casino (you will find some of the most well-known DJ's there, e.g. Paul van Dyk) or Matrix, on the other hand Die Tagung – a small place on a nostalgia trip that is stuffed full of weird and wonderful memorabilia of bygone East German days.
Kreuzberg with its Oranienstraße is offering a variety of multicultural cuisine styles. Besides restaurants from all over the world such as the Amrit and the Kafka, bars, cafés and taverns like Alibi and Franziskaner attract the young and trendy population. Altes Kaufhaus (former Trash) and Roses, Schnabelbar and SO36 are buzzing with young people until the early hours of the morning. In the Wiener Straße and at Görlitzer Park is plenty of action as well, proved by numerous Cafés and pubs (Morena, Madonna, Wiener Blut and as a new location the Privat Club).
In Berlin everyone likes to go shopping in his own district. Therefore in nearly every district shopping malls and centers reflect the character of their inhabitants.
Besides the well known shopping boulevards like Kurfürstendamm or Friedrichstraße many more destinations tempt to stroll, shop and linger at the numerous cafés. Every part of the city has its own center which might be worth a visit.
The upper part of Kurfürstendamm and the following Tauentzienstraße form a shopping paradise especially referring to the younger crowd for the existence of famous international labels like H&M, Bennetton and Zara which may be found right next to each other.
Walking from the Adenauerplatz the boulevard is converting into a more exclusive and tranquil zone. Big trademarks just like Jil Sander or Yves Saint Laurent have their fashion shops at that area.
The byroads of Kurfürstendamm form a perfect detour for their rich offer of small shops with extraordinary products. The streets with their splendid architecture of the turn of the century on Uhlandstraße and Ludwig-Kirch-Platz not only invite to quarry in the numerous stylish shops that offer posh design and fashion but tempt to relax at the many picturesque cafés and restaurants just as well.
Friedrichstraße is spreading a flair of the twenties. With its newly decorated buildings, exclusive offices and coffee shops one can experience a breeze of New York life spirit in the heart of Berlin.
Friedrichstraße is the most legendary street in the whole city and combines the tradition of the "Golden Twenties" with the architecture of the New Berlin. In the Twenties, the 3.5 km long street was the location for pleasure palaces, cafés, theatres and variety theatres such as the famous "Wintergarten".
After the division of the city, the Wall also cut through Friedrichstraße, where the famous »Checkpoint Charlie was located at the border of the districts of Kreuzberg and Mitte and thus at the border of East and West Berlin. The train station at Friedrichstraße, which has recently undergone complete renovation, remains rather more tragically in the minds of many East and West Berliners as the border crossing point between the two Germanys. The former customs hall, known as the "Tränenpalast" or "Palace of Tears", now hosts arts and entertainment events. Further north, the Friedrichstadtpalast offers revue theatre of international standing.