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Berlin Landmarks and Berlin Monuments (Berlin, Germany)



It is hardly surprising that Germany's most important city is crammed full of spectacular landmarks and monuments. Famous throughout the world, many of these date back hundreds of years and are in remarkable condition. Here are some of the top landmarks to visit.

Berlin Landmarks: Berliner Dom - Am Lustgarten, Berlin
Tel: +49 (0) 30 2026 9136
This is the main cathedral in the city of Berlin and you are able to climb to the very top of the dome, where you have great views across the city. Resembling St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, other interesting features include large marble pillars, a small exhibition on the history of the building, a vault housing 90 sarcophagi containing the remains of various members of the Prussian royals, who this ornate cathedral was built for in the 19th century. Its main nave was reopened in 1993, after a 20-year renovation period.




Berlin Landmarks: Reichstag (Parliament Building) - Berlin, Germany
Built in the late 19th century to house the German parliament (Bundestag), the Reichstag was set on fire in 1933, apparently by Nazi supporters, bombed by the Allies during World War II and also stormed by Russian troops in 1945 - there are even traces of the graffiti that the Russians left behind. The Reichstag has recently undergone some renovations so that it is once again home to the united German parliament, for the first time since 1933. Probably one of the strangest things ever to happen to this building was in 1995, when conceptual artist Christo and his wife Jeanne-Claude wrapped the whole building up in 100,000 metres / 328,000 feet of shiny-grey polypropylene and tied it with a deep-blue rope. This strange work of art lasted for just a few weeks during the summer and the project involved several hundred people at a cost of around USD 9 million.

Berlin Landmarks: Gendarmenmarkt - Gendarmenmarkt 1, Berlin
The Gendarmenmarkt is one of Berlin's most splendid plazas, home to a collection of beautiful neoclassical buildings. Leading Prussian architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel designed the Schauspielhaus, which is now known as the Konzerthaus Berlin. There are two churches nearby, the Deutsche Dom, displaying an exhibition on German history dating from the 1800s to present day - and the Franzosische Dom, which has a viewing platform at the top of its tall tower and is also home to the Huguenot Museum.

Berlin Landmarks: Victory Column (Siegessaule) - Am Grossen Stern, Berlin
Tel: +49 (0) 30 391 2961
This monument stands at 69 metres / 227 feet high and is made of granite, sandstone and bronze. It was built in 1873 to commemorate the successful military campaigns and was set up in front of the Reichstag. Therre are 285 steps through the column, which lead to an observation platform, providing splendid views across much of Berlin.
Landmark open: daily
Mid-May to mid-October - Monday to Thursday 08:30 to 18:30, Friday to Sunday 09:30 to 19:30
Mid-October to mid-May - Monday to Sunday 08:30 to 17:00
Landmark admission: charge

Berlin Landmarks: Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche - Berlin, Germany
Built in the 1800s, this church was very badly damaged during the second world war. It was almost entirely destroyed, with only the west tower remaining and was left as a ruin, a poignant reminder to people of the terrible destruction that can be caused by war. In the 1960s a modern tower and chapel were added to the site and now this pretty building is heavily dominated by blue-stained glass features. This structure, together with the ruins, is often referred to by locals as the 'lipstick with compact case'.

Berlin Landmarks: Neue Synagogue-Centrum Judaicum - Oranienburger Str., Berlin
Destroyed in World War II, this huge, grand building was Berlin's largest synagogue and was constructed in 1866. Some restoration work has taken place, reconstructing the large, gold-latticed dome and also the front part of the building. There is a permanent exhibition in the Centrum Judaicum, which displays information about the history of Jews in Berlin and the synagogue itself.

Berlin Landmarks: Olympiastadion - Berlin, Germany
This vast stadium was home to the 1936 Olympics and was built especially for the event,. Many world records were set at these Olympics, including five by Jesse Owens. The stadium is without doubt one of Berlin's best remaining examples of architecture from the Nazi period and visitors are only able to view it from the outside, where the features include two huge statues. This has become a popular venue for sporting events, concerts and conferences.

Part of the renovation included building a new dome and visitors can pass between its layers to witness the chamber of the government. The Plenary is open for free hourly guided tours when parliament is not in session - parliament is usually in session from Monday to Friday at 09:00 to 16:00, and at the weekends from 10:00 to 16:00. The walk through the dome it a fantastic experience and there are spectacular panoramic views of the city. There is also a rooftop restaurant which is open until midnight. The Reichstag is well worth a visit and this major tourist attraction has over one million visitors every year.

Berlin Landmarks: Charlottenburg Palace (Schloss Charlottenburg) - Luisenpl., Berlin
Tel: +49 (0) 30 3209 1275
This splendid Prussian monument serves as a real reminder of the imperial days of Berlin and still stands out as one of the most impressive buildings in the city. Situated on the outskirts of the city, it was originally a modest summer home to the Prussian rulers of the time and was built in 1695 and it was not completed until almost 100 years later. It is one of the oldest surviving Prussian palaces in Germany and has 70 rooms, countless corridors and consists of many different buildings, such as the Altes Schloss, which is the main building with the suites of Friedrich I and his wife, and the Neuer Flügel (New Wing), where King Friedrich I once lived. There are many ornate furnishings and in the west wing, a collection of ancient artifacts and also some prehistoric items of interest. This wing houses the enormous Golden Gallery (Goldene Galerie) which is the palace's grand ballroom and is over 42 metres / 138 feet long. The attractive gardens are also worth seeing and are open daily from dawn until dusk. Hourly guided tours to the royal apartments are available.
Landmark open: Tuesday to Friday 09:00 to 18:00, weekends 11:00 to 18:00
Landmark admission: charge, free every first Sunday of the month

Berlin Landmarks: Soviet War Memorials - Berlin, Germany
Built with marble that was taken from Hitler's Chancellory, the memorial in Tiergarten is situated nearby the Brandenburg Gate. Either side are the first two tanks that entered the city in 1945. In Treptower Park in Treptow there is a large war memorial and the centrepiece is a tall statue of a soldier holding a sword in one hand, a child in the other, and perhaps most poignantly, standing on a swastika, crushing it with his foot. This memorial is dedicated to the many Soviet soldiers who died in the Battle of Berlin. There are over 5,000 people buried here is this mass grave.

Berlin Landmarks: Checkpoint Charlie - Friedrichstr. 44, Berlin
With only a few small sections of the Berlin Wall remaining, it is hard to imagine its existence today, and all the trouble and deaths that it caused. Checkpoint Charlie was the third Allied checkpoint tower and is named after the third letter of the military alphabet, i.e. alpha, bravo, charlie. After the border reopened in 1989, the tower was carried away by a crane and was soon replaced by a replica guardhouse. Nearby there is a famous sign that is written in English, Russian, French and German and warns - 'You are now leaving the American sector'. Checkpoint Charlie still remains as one of the most famous parts of the Berlin Wall and has featured in many blockbuster films. There is a guard tower and also a red line that clearly marks the former divide of east from west.

Berlin Landmarks: Topography of Terror (Topographie des Terrors) - Niederkirchner Strasse 3, Berlin
During the Nazi reign, this was the location of Gestapo and SS headquarters. Although the buildings were bombed heavily, the basement still remains fairly intact. This chamber of horror has been excavated and is where many people were tortured during World War II. The overall site is now an open-air exhibit which is known as the Topography of Terror and it features an exhibition centre, with details of many crimes committed during Nazi times.

 
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