Berlin, Germany
On August 1, 1844, the Berlin Zoological Garden was the ninth zoo to open in Europe. The bombing and fighting of World War II dealt a terrible blow to the Berlin Zoological Garden. Of the 3,715 residents, only 91 animals survived, including the famous hippopotamus “Knautschke”, which according to legend submerged itself in its tank […]
Berlin, Germany
The Pergamon Museum was built between 1910 and 1930 by Ludwig Hoffmann. Poor foundations, however, soon led to damage in the building, which had to be pulled down before the First World War. The new, larger Pergamon Museum was designed in three wings. Today it houses three museums: the Antikensammlung Collection with its exhibits of […]
Berlin, Germany
The Reichstag Palace was built between 1884 and 1894. It housed the parliament of the German Empire and the Weimar Republic, and was severely damaged during the Second World War. The building has been rebuilt and renovated since 1994, and now houses the parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Anecdote In 1894, after […]
Berlin, Germany
The Neues Museum or New Museum reopened in October 2009 after a masterful refurbishment (about 200 million euros) by architect David Chipperfield. It houses the Egyptian collection and part of the Prehistory, Protohistory and Antiquities collection. Visitors can discover the history of the ancient world, from the Near East to the Atlantic, from North Africa […]
Berlin, Germany
Many Berliners believe that the Gendarmenmarkt is the most beautiful square in Germany, or even Europe. Indeed, the combination of the Deutscher and Französischer Dom and the Konzerthaus is a magnificent example of architectural harmony. The square created in 1688 according to the plans of Johann Arnold Nering was initially called Linden-Markt, later Friedrichstädtischer and […]
Berlin, Germany
Built by the Great Elector Frederick III in 1699 for his wife Sophie-Charlotte, the Charlottenburg Palace – the largest palace in Berlin – features a beautiful English park and formal gardens. The palace was severely damaged during World War II and reconstruction began in the 1950s. The apartments of King Frederick 1st and Queen Sophie-Charlotte […]
Berlin, Germany
The Berliner Dom, dedicated to Protestant worship, was completed in 1905. The temple, often disparaged for its pomp, underwent a reconstruction of more than fifty years after the end of World War II. Emperor Wilhelm II, at the same time the supreme governor of the Evangelical Church in Prussia, wanted for his Protestant United Church […]
Berlin, Germany
The city of Berlin is huge and full of religious buildings to discover. Not far from the cathedral Berliner Dom, you’ll find the Church of St. Mary, or Marienkirche, at the foot of Berlin’s television tower. This three-aisled Gothic church was remodeled in the Baroque period. A little further north, you will discover, not without […]
Berlin, Germany
The Brandenburg Gate is one of Berlin’s most iconic monuments. It is a symbol of the restored unity of Germany and its capital after the fall of the Wall. Once a symbol of the divided city, it attracted visitors who perched on the observation platform to peek across the Iron Curtain, across the no-man’s land […]
Berlin, Germany
The Church of St. Mary (St. Marienkirche) is the second oldest church in Berlin after St. Nicholas. While the original early Gothic structure dates from around 1270, it has been continually expanded and restored since then. Rebuilt in 1405, the facade is very simple, uncluttered and has a beautiful brick architecture. The bell tower of […]