Reichstag (Parliament) and Government District
The accessible glass dome of the Reichstag, which was designed by the British architect Sir Norman Foster, ranks among the great tourist attractions in the capital. The building, which was erected between 1884 and 1894 and has now been completely restored, is situated in the centre of the government district and is the seat of the German Parliament or Bundestag.
Brandenburger Tor
The city's most famous landmark throughout the world is the sandstone Brandenburger Tor at Pariser Platz with its four-horse chariot. Although it used to be a symbol of divided Germany, in November 1989 it became a symbol of the country's reunification.
Tiergarten
In the early 16th century the Tiergarten was a hunting ground. Under Frederick the Great the green oasis was redesigned to become a baroque pleasance for the population. Peter Joseph Lenné finally turned the park into an English-style landscape park in the 19th century, which is now located in the heart of Berlin, welcoming anyone looking for splendid walks or wishing to go jogging.
Zoo (Zoologischer Garten)
The zoo, which was opened in 1844, can be found right next to the railway station of the same name. The founding fathers of this first zoo in Germany were Alexander von Humboldt, scientist Martin Lichtenstein and landscape gardener Peter Joseph Lenné, who also designed the Tiergarten.
(www.zoo-berlin.de)
Potsdamer Platz
In the Second World War Potsdamer Platz was destroyed in a hailstorm of bombing and after the division of the city it remained a piece of dreary derelict land. This new urban district that was built from the drawing board after reunification accommodates the Sony Center, the DaimlerChrysler Quartier with the Potsdamer Platz Arcades - a large shopping arcade, "Weinhaus Huth", Potsdamer Platz Theatre (tickets can be booked through the Crowne Plaza Berlin City Centre) as well as other interesting buildings.
(www.potsdamerplatz.de)
(www.potsdamer-platz.net)
(www.sony-center.de)
Charlottenburg Castle
Charlottenburg Castle, which was built at the end of the 17th century, was a gift from Frederick III to his wife Sophie Charlotte, who soon made the palace the intellectual centre of Berlin. After the coronation of Frederick III, making him the King of Prussia, the summer residence was expanded until it was regarded as the most magnificent example of baroque architecture of the House of Hohenzollern.
(www.schloss-charlottenburg.de)
Botanical Garden
With over 18,000 species of plants in an area of around 42 hectares the Botanical Garden in Berlin is the largest in Europe. The glass conservatories housing tropical and subtropical plants are also impressive. The large Tropical Conservatory is no less than 60 m long, 30 m wide and 25 m high. This is where you will find the giant bamboo, for example, unusual varieties of orchids, water lilies and other exotic plants.
(www.botanischer-garten-berlin.de)
