The symbol of Germany. Constructed of sandstone as a building material, this colonnaded gate was designed by C.G. Langhans between 1788 and 1791, modeled after the architecture of the Akropolis in Athens. It is widest in the center and is the royal avenue. Above the gate is a bronze statue of the Goddess of Victory pulling a four-horse chariot. it was seized by Napoleon in 1807 and taken back seven years later in a Prussian victory. The buildings surrounding the Brandenburg Gate were completely destroyed in World War II, and a new statue was installed when it was restored in 1958. During the Cold War, the Berlin Wall was built in front of the gate. It separated East and West Berlin. The gate was on the East Berlin side. In 1990, the merger of East and West Germany brought down the Berlin Wall. Finally, the main road connecting East and West Berlin was opened.
Paris Square
Paris Square connects the Brandenburg Gate to the opulent Lindenstrasse. Formerly a military training ground, Wilhelm I built this square at the end of the lindenstrasse. The square was then surrounded by town houses, embassies and the luxurious Adlon Hotel.
The entire Paris Square and its surrounding buildings were severely damaged during the war. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, it was restored to its historic condition. In the course of the restoration, the area was filled with world-famous architects. The Liebermann and Sommer buildings to the left and right of the Brandenburg Gate are now twin buildings. Their architectural style is modeled after that of the historically famous architect Stüler. The construction of the Dresdner Bank building eschewed traditional architectural ornamentation while continuing the traditional architecture of the Paris Plaza.
The Reichstag Building
The Reichstag Building is one of Germany's most iconic buildings, originally known in German as the Reichstag, or Reichstag. Built in 1894, it was originally the seat of the Reichstag of the German Empire and the Weimar **** and State. Hitler launched the famous Reichstag arson here (Reichstag urn). It was severely damaged during World War II. It was rebuilt after the war. After the merger of East and West Germany, the Reichstag Building was designated as the new capital, and on April 19, 1999, the new Reichstag Building was completed after a complete renovation. The centerpiece of the new Reichstag is the Reichstag Chamber, which is surrounded by a glass wall and roofed by a hemispherical glass skylight. The new refurbishment was designed by the famous British architect Forster. The building's 19th-century interiors and remnants of the war were preserved. This included burn marks from fires and wars, as well as graffiti left by the Soviet Red Army. The entire renovation took four years and cost three hundred and thirty million dollars. The Reichstag is partially open to the public for tours.
Berlin Cathedral
Originally the royal court cathedral of Hohenzollern, it was built as a Protestant church corresponding to Peter's Cathedral, a Roman Catholic church, in the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm II from 1894 to 1905, designed by Julius Carl Raschdorff. Berlin Cathedral was built as a palace and memorial church for the Hohenzollern royal family after the demolition of the old cathedral. Despite the opposition of the people at the time, an ornate dome in the Italian Renaissance style was erected over the Berlin Cathedral in accordance with the wishes of Wilhelm II. The church was severely damaged during the Second World War and was restored between 1975 and 1993, but its original decoration was simplified. The interior of the church is richly decorated and was designed by the same architect, Raschdorff, during the same period. Among the most valuable pieces are the coffins of the Grand Elector and his wife Dorothea, King Friedrich I and Queen Sophie Charlotten. The main altar is the work of F. A. Stüler from 1850.
Museum Island
A small island in the river Schenspree, facing the water on all sides, is home to five neighboring museums: the Altes Museum (Old Museum), the Neues Museum (New Museum), the Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery), the Pergamon Museum, Bodemuseum. Free on the first Sunday of every month.
Potsdamer Platz
Potsdamer Platz is the most fascinating site in the new Berlin. During the division of East and West Germany, the area was divided by the Berlin Wall and remained empty until the reunification of the two Germanys, when it was built into Berlin's largest commercial center. It is also home to Berlin's largest casino. Its striking building set of restaurants, shopping centers, theaters and cinemas are equal to a body, near the famous Berlin Philharmonic Symphony Hall. It attracts not only sightseeing tourists, but also Berliners who often visit the city. The former Potsdamer Platz has become only a small part of the current square.
Transportation
Transportation within the city: The company that operates Berlin's city transportation is BVG, with buses***, streetcars and the subway.
Train stations: The main train station connecting the West German region is Hbf-Zoologischer Garten (Zoo Station). Most trains start here.
Airports: Berlin has three airports, but none of them are large enough for the capital. Berlin is now planning to build a large airport. Tegel Tegel Airport in the northwest of Berlin, with flights connecting major German cities, is Berlin's main airport, airport code TXL, a cab to the city center will take 30 minutes for 25 euros, in addition to a special line X9 to the city center of the train station for 2.1 euros; Schonefeld Airport in the southeast of Berlin, airport code SXF, mainly for holiday routes, the airport is the main airport, the airport is the main airport, the airport is the main airport, the airport is the main airport, the airport is the main airport, the airport is the main airport. The main companies are Berolina Sightseeing Buses, Severin+Kuhn (with English-speaking guides).
Entertainment:
There are two casinos (Spielbank) at Potsdamer Platz and Alexanderplatz. Cabaret shows are Friedrichstadtpalast and Wintergarten Variete.
Shopping:
The main shopping mall is on Kudammstrasse. East of the Wilhelm Memorial Cathedral are mostly general specialty and department stores. The west side is filled with upscale designer boutiques. Ka De We (卡迪维百货), Berlin's largest department store, claimed to be the largest in Europe. ***Seven floors. A cafeteria is located upstairs.