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What to see in Berlin, Germany

 
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vcppow's pictureby vcppow review
added on 14th of August, 2008

Berlin was immortalized in the film 'Cabaret' but the years after WWI represent just one colorful phase. Berlin is a very old city and many of its first buildings such as the Nicolaikirche and Marienkirche, both built between 1230 and 1292, can still be seen in the Nicolaiviertel area. Berlin was a trading hub in the 13th century and a recent excavation at the Pertriplatz uncovered an oak beam that dates to 1192, suggesting an earlier town.

Berlin grew from the fusion of two earlier settlements, Berlin and Cölln which were separated by the Spree River. At the midpoint of the next century, Berlin joined the Hanseatic League, a merchant association that regulated trade relations. At the end of the 15th century, Berlin’s population was about 8300 with 1100 buildings, including the first town hall, which was built on the site of the current Town Hall. 500 years of Hohenzollern reign had begun in Berlin and was commemorated in 1411 by initiating the building of what is now Berlin’s City Palace on an island in the Spree. Berlin’s importance rose until, in 1871, it was the capital of the German Reich and the nexus of business, politics and science. In 1879, the word’s first electric railway was demonstrated at an exhibition and in 1882 the Kurfürstendamm, a splendid promenade that is still enjoyed, was built.

The 20th century saw the building of the U-Bahn, still the speediest form of transport throughout Berlin and another city favorite, the Kaufhaus des Westens a department store at the Wittenbergplatz. Berlin’s population was now over 2 million, which was hard to sustain during WWI; poverty and starvation led to political unrest and labor strikes. The rise of Hitler and the National Socialist party ended the long history of democracy in Berlin. By the end of WWII Berlin’s Jewish population was reduced from about 160,000 to 1,400 by emigration and death in concentration camps.

The Wannsee Conference was held in 1942 nearby Berlin to discuss “final solution of the Jewish question,” in a house that is now a memorial. In 1940 Berlin experienced Allied bombing that damaged and destroyed many historic sites, including the original Sportpalais, site of the 1936 Olympics. The German Resistance to Hitler and the Third Reich is memorialized at the Bendlerblock and at the Plötzensee Memorial Center where many dissenters were executed in 1945. In April, Berlin surrendered to Allied Forces and on May 8, 1945 a treaty was signed in the Berlin suburb of Karlshorst, in a barracks that is now a memorial.

The city was subsequently divided into East and West Berlin, supervised by the USSR and the US, respectively. This division was physically embodied by erecting the Berlin wall which created a border between the two factions, friends and families. At the end of 1989 reunification efforts resulted in a new law that would allow travel between East and West Germany. On November 9, 1989 thousands of East Berliners went to Bornholmer Strasse to celebrate the opening of the border. The Berlin wall was later dismantled, small portions of it were sold as mementos. In recent years, Berlin has become a completely unified vibrant modern city.
 

Things about Berlin you may be interested in

 
 

Read about Berlin in our travel-guide
What to do in GermanyYou must see the Berlin Bundestag
 
 
 
guides

Recommended Berlin Guide

Berlin Nightlife

Berlin, GermanyHowever if you are opting for a very wild night in this part of the globe there are also several areas in the city where you could let loose all your inhibitions. The Mitte district has been and still is one of the hippest places for the young and the restless with clubs such as Kaffee Burger and Weekend. But more intense Mitte Kreuzberg is slowly making its own reputation as a happening district with crowds of artists and immigrants, but these parts of Berlin are not all wild parties and booze, these places also boast of a variety of cultural venues such as theaters cinemas and art galleries.... Read more »

 
 
reviews

Recent reviews for Berlin

Was gibt es in Berlin zu tun - Jun 15, 2009, by mary
Wo liegt Berlin? Berlin ist die Hauptstadt Deutschlands und liegt im Nordosten des Landes. Ca. 3,4 Millionen Einwohner hat Berlin. Die Durchschnittstemperatur ist 8,9 Grad. Im Jahr kommen ca. 17 Millionen Turisten nach Berlin, also mehr... Read more »

Useful info about Berlin - May 1, 2009, by erato
One fact about Berlin, Germany: the 70% of the city stands of forest. So Berlin is one of the cleanest and most beautiful cities of the world, with a lot of parks and threes even in the center, what gives an unbeatable, calm and comfortable... Read more »

Berlin for low budget travelers - Apr 30, 2009, by erato
The famous TV Tower is situated on the Alexanderplatz with its total height of 365 m. There is a viewing platform and observation deck at 203 meters from where you can see the whole city and, if the weather is good, even farer. It is a... Read more »

Berlin - Jul 24, 2009, by Victoria
Berlin wissen sie wo das liegt ich weiß es im osten Deutschlands dort gibt es das Brandenburger Tor,Schlösser und viele Museun zubesichtigen auf jeden fall lohnt es sich dort hinzufahren... Read more »

What you have to know about Berlin - Apr 30, 2009, by cipristb
Berlin City is the largest city of Germany with 3.4 million inhabitants and an area of 892 square km so the city became the capital of the country. Berlin had the first time the status of the capital in 1871 and this status was maintained... Read more »

 
 

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