The five sights of Berlin

Berlin isn’t just Germany’s capital and career hub. It also boasts original architecture, natural beauty, incredible venues and much more. Each year it welcomes around 25 million visitors who want to get to know the city better. Berlin has a huge number of sights to see, but there are some that are a must-see.

The Reichstag building

Start naturally with the basics in the form of the Reichstag building. It is the most important building in all of Germany and was erected in 1894. It has lived through many momentous events which influenced the formation of the state.

There have also been dark times in the history of the building, such as the great fire of 1933. A bombing in 1945 destroyed it altogether, leaving some fragments intact. But reconstruction work has restored it to its original appearance, including the glass dome.

Brandenburg Gate

Another landmark of Berlin and the whole German state, the Brandenburg Gate is a handsome structure with a classical arch that marks the Gates of Peace. Despite this, it was the gate through which German soldiers went to war. They also feature a foursome of magnificent horses ridden by the goddess of victory.

At the base of the gate there are 12 columns. One can walk through them to the world famous ‘street under lime trees’, where many other interesting and iconic objects are to be found on the way. The symbolism of the gate remains to this day.

Berlin Wall

The sad history of the Berlin Wall has made it a major landmark in Germany. Despite the fact that it is an ugly concrete structure with barbed wire fencing, many tourists still want to take a picture against it and tick off the must-see list.

Originally the wall was over 3 metres long and stretches for 160 kilometres. Today a fragment remains, which is 800 metres long. This is how the fence became a symbol of unity of the whole of Germany.

Berlin Cathedral

The construction of the Protestant church fell on the period XIX-XX centuries and took 11 years. When it was finished, the cathedral became the main Lutheran church. The appeal of the building lies not only in the originality of the design, but also in the moderation of the decoration. The emphasis is on plenty of detail, which is worth exploring.

It is decorated with sculptures, stained-glass windows, as well as with paintings depicting biblical motifs. The highlight of the cathedral is the organ made by Master Sauer. Its incredible acoustics gives it an awe-inspiring effect.

Holocaust Memorial

A number of monuments commemorate the events of the war in Berlin. One of these is close to the Brandenburg Gate. The Holocaust Memorial is an area containing a large number of concrete blocks – approximately 2,000 to be exact.

The structures are arranged in such a way as to create a labyrinth. Being in it, a person feels some emotional pressure. The author Peter Eisemann’s idea was to convey all the pain and horror that is the Holocaust.