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PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 08:23 AM

Numerous legends and agent stories are told about Checkpoint Charlie. The former border crossing point between East and West Berlin was the place where Soviet and American tanks stood face to face, after the construction of the »Wall in 1961.
From 1961 to 1990, Checkpoint Charlie in the »Friedrichstraße, was the only border crossing point for the Allies, foreigners, employees of the Permanent Representation and officials of the GDR. Today, the checkpoint is commemorated by a border sign and a soldier's post. The museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie tells the history of the Wall.

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 08:24 AM

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 church Französische Friedrichstadtkirche was built from 1701-05 to the designs of Cayart, as a church for Berlin's Huguenot community, thus the reason for its name. From 1780-85, the imposing tower of the French cathedral (Französischer Dom) 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 so-called "Neue Kirche" 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 of the "German Cathedral", during the redesigning of the Gendarmenmarkt. The cathedral was destroyed in the Second World War and reopened on October 2, 1996 following complete restoration.
Konzerthaus/Schauspielhaus

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.

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 08:25 AM

Because of its location on »Unter den Linden and the importance of the buildings which surround it, Bebelplatz is one of the most noteworthy tourist attractions in Berlin.
The square dates to about 1740, but it was named in 1947 after the joint founder of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD), August Bebel. At first, it was to be the centre of the Forum Fridericianum planned by Knobelsdorff. This could not however be fully realized – only the »opera house was constructed from 1741–43, which lead to the grounds becoming known as Opernplatz. Behind the Staatsoper, »St. Hedwig's Cathedral can be found (built 1747–1773), while the western side is the site of the Königliche Bibliothek (Royal Library, 1775–80), known colloquially as the "Kommode" ("chest of drawers"); today, this building belongs to the Humboldt University and is attached to the Alte Palais (Old Palace, also now used by the Humboldt University).
On May 10, 1933, the square was the focal point for the "burning of the books" staged by the Nazis: the works of Heinrich and Thomas Mann, Erich Kästner, Stefan Zweig, Heinrich Heine, Karl Marx, Alfred Kerr, Kurt Tucholsky and countless other writers were thrown into the flames. Since 1995, this event has been commemorated by the monument designed by Micha Ullmann, which consists of an underground library with empty shelves and which can be seen through a transparent plastic window set into the ground.

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 08:26 AM

St. Hedwig's Cathedral is the diocesan church of the Archdiocese of Berlin and the most important Roman Catholic ecclesiastical building in the city.
As a sign of the religious tolerance of Prussia, Friedrich II. gave permission for it to be built, financed by donations from all over Europe. The church, behind the »Staatsoper on »Bebelplatz, was built from 1747–73 to plans by Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff, who drew inspiration from the Pantheon in Rome. Johann Boumann the Elder supervised the construction; the dome, initially executed in wood, and the gable frieze were only completed in 1884–87 because of problems during construction. It has served as the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Berlin since 1929.
Under the leadership of the dean Bernhard Lichtenberg, who died in prison and who was beatified in 1996, St. Hedwig's Cathdral became one of the centers of Catholic resistance. Badly damaged in the Second World War, the cathedral was rebuilt from 1952–63 to plans by Hans Schwippert, at which time a new, reinforced concrete dome was added. The interior was also extended and modernized during reconstruction. With its unusual dome and valuable inventory, including a Madonna from the 16th century and the Pietà from 1420, the building is well worth a visit.

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 08:27 AM

Berlin Cathedral is the former court cathedral of Prussia's royal family, the Hohenzollern and was conceived as a protestant answer to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
It was built to plans by Julius Carl Raschdorff from 1894–1905, during the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm II. as the royal and memorial church of the Hohenzollern; the previous cathedral, built 1747-50 and refurbished in classical style by Schinkel, had been demolished. Ignoring the criticisms of his contemporaries, the new cathedral arose in accordance with the wishes of Kaiser Wilhelm II. – a sumptuously ornamented, domed building inspired by the Italian High Renaissance style. Following extensive damage to the building during the Second World War, a simplified reconstruction took place from 1975–93.
The magnificent interior was designed by Julius Raschdorff around the turn of the last century. In the "Sermon Chapel", there is a golden altar frieze depicting the 12 apostles, constructed to the designs of K. F. Schinkel; the large, impressive Sauer organ, and the magnificent sarcophagi of the Great Elector and Electress Dorothea, King Friedrich I. and Queen Sophie Charlotte can also be seen there. The main altar, dating from 1850, is the work of Friedrich August Stüler. The Christening and Marriage Chapel contains the altar painting "Miracle of the Pentecost" by K. Begas the Elder. The royal crypt of the Hohenzollern contains around 100 remains. Since November 2005 a museum presents models, paintings and constructions plans of the building's history. The exhibition also informs about the architects.

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 08:28 AM

The New Synagogue on Oranienburger Straße which houses the Centrum Judaicum, is one of the most important locations for Jewish life in Berlin. It functions as a synagogue with egalitarian worship.
At the same time it also hosts changing exhibitions and one permanent exhibition, "Open ye the gates – The New Synagogue 1866–1995", which recounts the history of the synagogue itself and the associated history of Jewish life in Berlin. The building also contains an extensive archive of Jewish history. Dedicated in 1866, the building was the largest and most magnificent Jewish place of worship in Germany, and at the same time a self-conscious declaration of city's well-established Jewish bourgeoisie. The building in Moorish style was constructed from 1859–66 to plans by Eduard Knoblauch: the ingenious steel construction of its galleries and roof and the graceful architectural styling made it a highpoint of contemporary engineering and architecture.
In the large nave and on the galleries, there were seats for up to 3000 worshippers. A large, golden dome, which could be seen from far and wide, crowned the building; the building's façade, with its magnificent ornamented brickwork, is flanked by two towers which also boast golden domes. On the "Night of Broken Glass" in 1939, the spirited action of the chief of the local police precinct prevented the infliction of serious damage on the synagogue. In 1943, the building was severely damaged in air raids, and in 1958 the main chamber of the synagogue was demolished.
The foundation stone of the reconstructed building was laid on 9 November 1988, exactly 50 years after the "Night of Broken Glass", and the New Synagogue was rededicated in 1995. The actual synagogue chamber was not reconstructed. On the open space which remains, and which can be viewed as part of a guided tour, eight marble pillars mark the site of the ark according to the original foundations, conveying the dimensions of the original synagogue and the extent of the loss.

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 08:30 AM

With its winding medieval lanes and countless bars and restaurants, the Nikolaiviertel is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Berlin.
Before the Second World War, the quarter around the Nikolaikirche was characterized by narrow streets, inns, shops, courtyards and craftsmen's workshops. Artists including Kleist, Hauptmann, Ibsen, Casanova, Strindberg and Lessing lived or lodged here. The quarter was almost completely destroyed during air raids in 1944 and left as a wasteland. The ruins were only reconstructed from 1981–87, in the run-up to the 750th anniversary of the city, under the supervision of the architect Günter Stahn. During the rebuilding of the quarter as a winding pedestrian precinct, modern and reconstructed buildings were brought together into a unified whole. The houses and streets follow their historical forebears as closely as possible, creating the illusion of a piece of "Old Berlin".
One of the most important sights is the 13th-century Nikolaikirche with its twin towers. It has undergone much rebuilding in the course of its history: Schinkel for example carried out restructuring in 1807, and the towers were added from 1876–78. The carefully restored interior is home to an annex of the City Museum, recounting the history of the city to the Thirty Years War. The Ephraimpalais is one of the most important architectural landmarks in the Nikolaiviertel, a masterwork of Berlin palace architecture from the 18th century which now hosts changing exhibitions. Rich ornamentation decorates the balconies of this gently curved building, which was dismantled in 1935/36 because of street widening, stored in numbered pieces, and then practically forgotten until it was replaced and rebuilt in 1983 after extensive negotiations. The baroque Knoblauchhaus from 1760 is also worth a visit: filled with valuable furniture, its interiors offer a peek into the world of the upper middle class.

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 08:31 AM

The Jewish Museum is the most significant example of contemporary architecture in Berlin. The plans drawn up by the architect Daniel Libeskind are realized alongside the yellow, baroque building of the Berlin Museum, which also serves as the entrance to the Jewish Museum. The form and style of the building embody a complex concept full of ciphers, codes and philosophical themes. The silvery, steel-clad building, with its sheer, apparently windowless exterior, is reminiscent of a broken Star of David.
The home towns of famous Jews are linked together into a matrix which forms the structure of the building. Inside, in addition to the exhibition rooms, there is the windowless Holocaust Tower. Outside, in the Garden of Exile, pillars on a slope mirror the isolation and loss of orientation experienced by those forced to live in exile. The main axis, the void, cuts a swathe through the different sections: it signifies the empty, invisible aspects of Jewish history.
The Jewish museum was opened to the public in January 1999 and generated a great deal of interest until it was closed at the start of 2001 to allow the installation of the exhibitions. The exhibition which was opened in September 2001 recounts the history and life of German Jews. Tip: Monday in Jewish Museum

Every Monday the Jewish Museum offers a special programme. The Museum is open until 10 p.m. A guided tour which presents an overview on the exhibits in the Jewish Museum takes place at 7 p.m. An oriental buffet and live klezmer music starting at 6p.m. in the restaurant Liebermanns, situated in the musuem, complete the special programme on Monday.

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 08:32 AM

The Fernsehturm, the highest building in the city, is one of Berlin's biggest attractions. Its total height is 368 meters: the viewing platform is at a height of 203 metres.
It was built according to the plans of a team of architects from 1965–69, with the assistance of a group of experts from Sweden. The Fernsehturm, member of the World Federation of Great Towers, consists of a 250m-high reinforced concrete shaft topped by a stainless steel sphere, which is divided into seven stories. One of them is home to the Telecafé, which offers a breath-taking view of the city. The café, which rotates on its own axis, takes 30 minutes to go round. The tip of the tower is formed by a 118 meter-long television antenna. A pavilion-style construction around the foot of the tower was constructed from 1969–72 according to the plans of the architects Walter Herzog and Heinz Aust; it is divided into three sections with pointed, multi-pitch roofs. Here you'll find the Tourist Center.

PagodaSwan · 11-23-2005, 08:39 AM

Frankfurt is often seen only as a transit hub or a business centre, but it's so much more. It boasts Germany's most spectacular skyline, mirrored in the Main River, and Europe's tallest office building. It's also the country's most international town; more than a quarter of its citizens are foreign.

Frankfurt throws more money at the arts than any other European city so you'll most likely catch a ground-breaking exhibition at one of its museums. And if you do happen to get stuck at the mega-airport there's a nightclub, art gallery and X-rated cinema to help while away those in-transit hours.

When To Go

As a convention town par excellence, Frankfurt's population swells during March-May and September-October - which just happen to be the best times to visit weatherwise. The winter months (November-February) are prone to storms and freezing temperatures, and June-August are hot, prone to rain and crowded. The solution is to book ahead or stay at places either beneath or beyond the conventioneers' budgets.