Berlin
Something for everyone
Berlin, one of the largest states of Germany is a popular tourist spots in Germany as well one of the most popular places to visit in Europe. This German capital city lies along the Spree River is called as Athens of Germany and its Grey City too and needless to say it is the most happening city of Germany.
Berlin leaves its imprints on world history…
Albeit, there is no documentary evidence as to when Berlin was founded. Indeed there were these two towns; Berlin that lay along the eastern side of the Spree and Cölln that lay on the western side. However, the oldest reference of Berlin was in the year 1244. The city has been a standing witness for over 3 centuries to all major rencontres including the two World Wars, the Franco-Prussian War, founding of the first German empire, Cold War and unification of Germany again.
According to one school of thought Berlin is Slav derived meaning that is related to marsh and/or damp land. This school is; however, disputed by some historians for the reason that Slavic names cannot end as –in but should end as -au or -ow.
Destruction of Berlin Wall…
It was in 1989 that the Berlin Wall was destroyed ending the cold war and unifying the West and the East Berlin transforming the city to a great extent.
Berlin city is built in the Bundesland around the Spree River in Brandenburg. Being capital city of Germany, today, it is an exciting place with all touch of modernity, attracting business and holidaying tourists alike and most part of the city that we see today is either restored, or rebuilt or renovated and the place is blessed with architectural remnants of bygone days.
Best Time To Visit Berlin
January month is the coldest and July is the hottest month at Berlin. This beautiful city goes to freezing temperatures during the winter so if you have plans to holidaying in Berlin during Christmas make sure you pack your thermals too to keep you protected from freezing weather. Otherwise, Berlin can be best visited between May and September months.
Berlin has so much in store to offer a travel fanatic
Berlin city is quite a relaxed place, but with exciting milieu. The tourism here is growing big as an industry and as a capital city of Germany, Berlin is a hub of most happening events in the entire of Germany with so many classy cafés, restaurants, multiplexes, museums, electric nightclubs and pubs and lots. Indeed there is a lively exuberance in this city almost entire part of the year.
Despite having a past that was troubled, this has become a promising city and there are several worth visiting landmarks. But the most popular tourist attractions one cannot afford to miss include:
Berlin Wall stands a tall icon of Cold War
The historic wall is approximately 1300-meter long and known as East Side Gallery and it is located on the east side of the Berlin’s center and along the River Spree in MühlenstraBe close to Oberbaumbrücke. The East Side Gallery is respected as an International Memorial and a memorial for freedom. The east side of the wall is painted and the Gallery showcases greater than 100 paintings by artists across the world.
The Brandenburger Gate is at the center of Berlin. The gate was commissioned as early as 18th century by Friedrich Wilhelm II as a landmark to represent peace. This now has become the most captured landmarks in Berlin by lens men across the world. The gate had been an integral unit of the great Berlin Wall and it was locked during the communist rule. It became a symbol to mark the reunification of Germany and, more importantly, there were 18 gates earlier with only one still remaining.
Designed by Carl Gotthard Langhans the gate has a sculpture of the Victory goddess on its top. Napoleon took away the sculpture stealthily but eventually returned back to the rightful owner, Berlin. When the Berlin Wall came down in 1989 all festivities concentrated here around this building. So it has historical significance for the people of Berlin. The gate opens to a road under and it joins East and West sides of the Berlin.
Fernsehturm Television Tower is another tall skyline icon of Berlin and indeed a very popular landmark. The tower was built between 1965 and 1969 by former GDR. The tower stands 1200-feet high and it has a revolving restaurant at about its center. The view from the restaurant is simply breathtaking and it is advised that you have your reservations done when you visit Berlin because the restaurant is packed during any part of the year. The observation deck on the tower can also be visited.
Funkturm Berlin or the Radio Tower offers another valid reason to visit the city. The tower is 150 meters high and more popular as "der lange Lulatsch." The tower stands in the Charlottenburg that is outside of Berlin and is tagged as a must visit place.
Reichstag is another major attraction in this part of the world. This architectural edifice is located quite close to the Brandenburg gate and houses the German parliament. It was the British architect, Sir Norman Foster that has revamped the design and gave it an all-new marvelous look with the huge glass dome.
For the nature and animal lovers there is Zoologischer Garten Berlin or the Berlin zoological garden. Kids will fall in love with this place at their first sight. The zoo is located in Berlin Tiergarten close to the S-Bahn and indeed it is one of the biggest zoos in the entire of Germany. The zoo houses massive number of animal species (about 1500 species with about 14,000 animals) and a magnificent aquarium. If you have time you can include this in your itinerary.
Tierpark Berlin is another great zoo in Berlin. This is located on the former grounds of Friedrichsfelde Palace and spans a huge 160-hectares land. The place is very popular all over Europe. If you want to catch sight of some rare species, come down to Tierpark Berlin.
Berlin is also home to some world famous research institutes and universities. It is also a home to historic sites and museums. Berlin is a city with so many museums for the art lovers and they present lucid details Berlin’s history.
The Museum Island is a worth visiting place and it’s a museum complex housing about 5 museums. These store some great collections including 6,000 year-old artifacts.
The art galleries in the city house sculptures and paintings of both old and modern eras. The works of Cézanne, Van Gogh and Picasso are just to name a few.
Berlin has about 50 museums (government run) including the Pergamon museum, Alte National galerie, Altes Museum, Neues Museum, Bodemuseum, and the Museuminsel (Museum Island) and they are a treat for the art buffs from across the world. The Jüdisches Museum, Deutsches Historisches Museum, Neue Nationalgalerie and Gemäldegalerie are other famous museums.
The churches at Berlin are historically interesting while being architectural beauties themselves. To name a few, they include the Marienkirche, Nikolaikirche, Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche, St. Hedwigs Kathedrale, Friedrichswerdersche Kirche and Berliner Dom.
Coming to entertainment and shopping, Potsdamer Platz is a must visit landmark. This center is quite popular in the entire of Europe and is full of entertainment clubs, bars, shops and cafés presenting the vibrant culture of Berlin. The place is touted to become the heart of Berlin in the days to come by.
The city also has been a fantastic host for several sporting events and orchestras. Berlin malls are full of life and vibrant colors; the Europa Center and 'Arkaden am Potsdamer Platz' to name some are so modern housing the globally acclaimed brands while giving the unforgettable shopping experience to the shopping enthusiasts.
Nightlife of Berlin is second to none with the city being active all through the night. The discotheques and the pubs have something to offer to the night animals and party aficionados.
Transport
Berlin is connected very well via air route to all the major cities of Germany and also important world-class cities. Traveling to Berlin is no means a hassle provided you have all the tickets booked in advance. Once in Berlin, there are so many guided bus tours being operated by several service providers all through the day on a regular interval basis. They are a way of going on a sightseeing tour around the city, and also the inexpensive mode of getting around Berlin. A great majority of these guided tours run starting from the center of west to east, traversing the Tiergarten and then going around the Reichstag.
During summer; however, there are boat tours. These can be very interesting mode of getting around to some parts of the city. Of late, walking tours are becoming trendier and themed walking tours are also in vogue and these emphasize specifically on some parts such as the cultural theme will take you through the culture-rich landmarks while the religious theme will take you through a tour of churches and the nature theme will take one through Berlin’s parks and zoos.
Whatever be the mode Berlin is sure to set your spirits free and you can experience the majesty and modernity at this European city to remember forever.
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