Berlin - The city at the heart of Europe - Full travel and tourist Guide [Top Travel FDestinations]

oh [Music] [Music] compared to other European cities Berlin less than 800 years old is considered a young City yet without a doubt its fairly Short History makes it unique Berlin is a city of Social and Architectural experimentation starting with prussia's famous Master Builders and continuing to the modern era and the architects who worked here after the wall came down I think the construction of the Berlin Wall began early in the morning of Sunday August the 13th 1961 it was a desperate and effective move by the German Democratic Republic to stop East berliners escaping from the Soviet controlled East German State into the west of the city which was then occupied by The Americans British and [Music] French though the west side of the Berlin Wall was once a popular meeting point for graffiti sprayers nowadays many famous graffiti artists have left their mark on the east side of the longest preserved section of the wall 118 artists from 21 countries have painted pictures on a 1,316 m long section of the Berlin Wall which is now a listed [Music] Landmark Checkpoint Charlie is one of the most symbolic Memorials of the divided City it was the best known border crossing of Cold War days it's today an iconic marker of territorial boundary and political division until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 it signified the border between West and East capitalism and communism freedom and confinement the spot remains a mustsee sight in Berlin with huge historical and emotional resonance love fears deep [Music] Berlin's Holocaust Memorial located in mitter on a stretch of the former death strip where the wall once stood near the Brandenburg gate is Berlin's stunning Monument to the Holocaust dedicated to the Jewish victims of the Nazi Genocide of World War II the internationally renowned New York architect Peter Eisenman designed a field of Steely 2,711 concrete blocks of different heights structured in a grid system and covering nearly 19,000 sare M of gently sloping ground impressive in its awesome gray soberness rather than somberness the monument is open day and night and it's possible to walk through the concrete SL ABS at one's own [Music] pace think of [Music] you [Music] lonely [Music] the even though the destruction of war and many years as a divided City meant that Berlin had the unique opportunity after the wall came down to completely redesign entire neighborhoods and building ensembl in City Central districts architecturally exciting projects have also been implemented at different locations as solitary Urban Jewels the best way to explore Berlin's unique atmosphere is from the inside whether on foot or by bike visitors watched a Skyline of construction cranes rise over the metropolis and marveled at the awesome commitment to knitting together a city divided for 50 years Berlin audaciously tried to reconcile its tragic past with a new vision of the urban future the city placed the realization of this Grand ambition in the hands of Architects an opportunity unequaled since the great rebuilding project after World War II important museums and public buildings were erected or [Music] [Music] rebuilt following German reunification on October the 3rd 1990 the bundestag the German Federal Parliament decided one year later to make the rear the seat of Parliament in Berlin the restored capital of reunited Germany after a complete restoration of Paul wallet's original 1894 building the bundestag reconvened here in s Norman Foster spectacularly restored Reich building in 1999 the original Reich building was completed in 1894 following German National unity and the establishment of the German Reich in 1871 [Music] the building's Grandeur was accentuated by an imposing projective columned entrance supporting a triangular Gable and a wide flight of steps that must be climbed to reach the main entrance portal under the attentive eye of Kaiser Wilhelm II Paul wallet's rear Competition winner of 1882 was a synthesis of high Renaissance and classical motifs the six-story complex in the style of the Italian High Renaissance covers an area of about 13,290 sare M and its Four Towers are 40 m High the famous inscription to the German Nation a 1916 Edition by Peter Baron still Towers above the Monumental entrance [Music] after reunification and the bunder star's move from Bon to Berlin it became necessary to equip and thoroughly modernize the languishing building the bundestag voted for a slightly more conservative Recon construction of the original dome in modern [Music] guys the reichstag's new dome or coupa with its vast Central Glass cylinder is amongst the most impressive features visually and technically designed to reflect natural light into the plenary chamber it provides natural ventilation and light with a mirror system which directs light inside the chamber during the day and reflects it back at night the steel Dome structure with a diameter of 38 M at the base and a height of 24 m is a token of the renewal of a building that's otherwise little changed outwardly [Music] the roof of the rich do and the Dome offer 360° views of sprawling [Music] bin few cities have seen as many changes over recent years as Berlin the two separate entities that existed before the Wall came down have become one again [Music] [Applause] the city of Berlin offers an impressive and fascinating history as well as breathtaking modern [Music] sculptures Berlin is one of the greenest capital cities in Europe parks and wooded areas can all be found in the city they're ideal for relaxing between touring the city and visiting [Music] museums expressionist style bundas can is one of the complex of buildings situated around the rear the seat of the German Parliament built to House Government institutions following the relocation of the German capital from bond to Berlin the building was designed designed by architect Axel schz with Nine Stories it has a height of 36 M and a total floor area of about 12,000 sare M making it one of the largest governmental headquarters in the world with the bunder start's 1995 decision to move the federal government from bond to Berlin the new construction of government buildings was a necessity with the exception of the Reich star the Old Government District between the tear garden and the spre river was left in rubble after the second world war this left much room for the ideas of well-known Architects to construct modern prestigious government buildings that are adapted to the standards of today and the needs of tomorrow [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] there are more than 2,500 public parks Gardens in Berlin and almost AIT of the city is covered with trees tear Garden in Berlin refers to the Parliamentary Government and diplomatic District as well as to Berlin's largest and most popular inner city park the tier Garden animal park and former hunting ground is Berlin's best known park because of its centrality it's a favorite with locals and visitors wonderful for a stroll a breath of fresh air a picnic cycling or a jog or just kicking a ball around today the area includes the re o vehicle pot dama plat and the Cal Forum as well as the Diplomat and vetle the first Avenues were arranged in the late 17th century gaining increasingly refined Touches under the influence of the French inspired Gardens for entertainment and Leisure the English influence became fashionable in the early 19th century and the original designs by prominent landscape architect Peter Joseph Len have lasted until [Music] today in 1818 Len was commissioned to transform the green area into a landscaped Park berliners make good use of the park for outdoor activities Sports and football games and barbecues on Sundays are very [Music] popular public parks green strips waterways and City squares of various shapes and sizes characterize green bin and provide a variety of recreational opportunities in the city the 2.5 Square km Tia Garden is the largest park in the city it's more than 23 km of Pathways make it popular with those looking for a leisurely place to Stoll for many years however the park wasn't open to the public it began its life as the preferred hunting ground for the electors of Brandenburg it was Fredick I the first Russian King who opened the park to the general public the National Memorial to Prince bismar is one of the most intriguing in the city bismar is shown in his kurasia uniform as he was want to appear in the old right [Music] star four groups encircled the base of the pedestal unfortunately much of the park was decimated during World War II [Music] [Applause] [Music] since the beginning of 1994 bellw Palace in Berlin has being the official residence of the federal president located in the midst of the tear Garden right on the banks of the spree and close to Victory column the bundar and the Brandenburg gate bellw is situated in the center of Berlin the palace was commissioned by the younger brother of Friedrich the second Ferdinand of Russia built and was finished in [Music] 1786 his plan is a two-story three-wing structure consisting of a long main building and two Wings on the left the women's wing on the right the spre wi designed in the early classical Style [Music] rustling waves green forests nature Rejuvenation and peace that too is Berlin because all around the city of over 1 million residents a unique landscape is situated with large parks there is was a [Music] time for everything just near the Berlin's Victory column is another of Berlin's monuments that's reinvented itself Through the Ages from the symbol of Prussian military victory in the 19th century to that of Berlin's thriving gay community and favorite t spot today the column is an interesting example of allegorical representations linking German traditional mythological symbols to its Imperial days the 8.3 me high statue on the top of the column represents both Victoria the goddess of Victory and Basha the allegorical and Latin name of the just for your caring for what you you to remember can also be found along June the 17th Street when you're falling apart it's by Red Army and two t34 tags a bronze statue of a Triant Red Army soldier stands on the central pilot the monument a concave colonade of six joint axes was allegedly erected with red marble and granite transported here from the ruins of Hitler's Imperial chancell forget it commemorates the 80,000 Soviet Dead who fa drink the of [Music] for the Brandenburg gate is one of Berlin's most important monuments a landmark and symbol allinone with over 200 100 Years of history when Germany was reunified following the fall of B in November 1989 the Brandenburg gate quickly reinvented itself into the New Berlin symbol of unity the brandonburg gate was erected between 1788 and 1791 according to designs by Carl Gothard langens whose Vision was inspired by the propon in athens's Acropolis Prussian Sovereign friederick Wilhelm II was looking for a suitable architectural statement to hals the approach into the unen Linden Boulevard the classical Sandstone work is one of the masterpieces of this era and is the only surviving one of 18 previous City portals it has five passages each single pillar is 11 M deep and has a Doric column of sandstone in front of it on both sides of the gate were gate Lodges of course the king expected the representative and Monumental building the width averages 65 M and its altitude comes up to 26 M only the Imperial family were allowed to drive through the middle passage of the Brandenburg gate until 198 the emperor willhelm II [Music] abdicated the quadria a sculpture representing the goddess of Victory by Johan God sh which be spotted from a long distance was erected on the gate in 1793 make it real try sing in a goel and Go's always a Time the Paris of plat is the square on the Eastern side of the brandenberg gate it was originally laid out between 1732 and 1734 part of Berlin second bar expansion outward historical City Center two additional important landmarks just to the side of the Gate of the par of plant with the restored American Embassy and the Academy of Arts and its modernist glass facad [Music] [Music] already in the 19th century the Central Boulevard un Den Linda which means under the Linden trees was Berlin's most Splendid prominade and parade Street even today the Avenue hasn't lost any of its old charm initially it was a bridal path which from 1573 onwards LED from the city Palace to lito and then later onto charlottenberg Palace which was named after Queen Sophie Charlotte and from there all the way to Spandau starting in 17701 un Den Lindon was beautified with the help of Royal Pomp and new architecture [Music] Duke Fredick Wilhelm also known as the great elector was dedicated to the development and beautification of Berlin during his reign in the mid 1600s in order to spruce up the route from his castle home to the tear Garten hunting ground it said that friederick ordered the planting of long rows of Linden trees which would also serve to keep the route more shady and comfortable for his travels that means his carriage ride would have him traveling un Den Lindon literally under the lindens in the course of time the Armory and friedr startart were added and under the rule of Frederick the great important buildings were built Carl Friedrich schinkel's great architectural achievement was to bring together the various buildings and styles present so as to create a unifying aesthetic concept on the basis of this taken together they formed an aesthetic ensembl centered around unen Lindon after the second world war unen Linden was a desert of rubble that is with the exception of the city Castle in 1950 however the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the said Walter ulbd blew up the city Castle because he regarded it as a symbol of Prussian absolutism [Music] the other surviving buildings were gradually [Music] reconstructed the focus on History memory and on Urban identity can strike the outsider as an obsessive kind of inner reflection but it's part of a genuine transformation people see these buildings as expressions of the force of History rather than as about themselves [Music] friederick II expanded the Boulevard by adding his collection of cultural buildings to the area including the Berlin State opera house and the State library in 1701 the library was renamed the Royal Library at Berlin and kept this name until the end of the German monarchy in 1918 [Music] one Statue Still Standing today is the impressive equestrian statue of Fredick II the massive bronze Monument was created between 1839 and 1851 by Christian Daniel [Music] Rouch Berlin's elegant Boulevard is found in the old heart of Berlin going all the way from the Brandenburg gate to the SOS Brock bridge on the boulevard unen Linden there are many important institutions such as the Humbolt University and the state Opera as well as attractions such as the newak memorial and the armory Berlin's oldest university completed in 1766 is located in a former Royal Palace its illustrious student body and professors once included the father of German idealism and the dialectic philosopher Hegel KL Marx and Fredick Engles the new aash Memorial has been the main Memorial site for the victims of war and tyranny since 1993 about 180 museums a vibrant Gallery scene Top Class special exhibitions and renowned auction houses Berlin is a mecca for lovers of art Berlin's museum landscape is as vital as bin itself no other City lives and breathes history as bind does this is where history left particularly deep marks on its streets squares and buildings they tell the stories of little and large events in the city's history the many history museums of the city explain backgrounds and connections [Music] Berlin's Museum island is the northern tip of spre Island and it's also magnificent work of art itself involving five world-renowned museums gathered in an extraordinary ensembl since 1999 the museum has been the only architectural and cultural ensembl that's considered part of world heritage by UNESCO [Music] like an ancient Temple the alt National Gallery Museum along with its stairway rises above Museum Island [Music] the model that inspired the architect Friedrich aasher was the Acropolis of Athens it was the first Museum to be renovated here and has been open to the public since [Music] 2001 built between 1867 and 1876 the building features works of classicism Romanticism the Momi era impressionism and early [Music] modernism the alz museum built between 1823 and 1830 is one of the most important works in the architecture of classicism with a lucidly ordered exterior and an interior structure of great Precision after the ancient Greek style shinkle pursued humble's idea of the museum as an educational institution open to the public the Consortium of museums found on museum Island forms a unique Cultural Center [Music] Berlin Cathedral completed in 1905 is Berlin's largest and most important Protestant church as well as the Seiler of the Prussian hohan Solen [Music] Dynasty this outstanding High Renaissance Barack Monument has linked the hohan Solin to German protestantism for centuries and undergone renewed phases of architectural renovation since the Middle Ages first built in 1465 as a Parish Church on the Spree River it was only finally completed in 1905 under the last German Kaiser Wilhelm II damaged during the second world war it remained closed during the gdr years and reopened after Restoration in [Music] 1993 when Wilhelm II ascended the throne he authorized the demolition of the old Cathedral and construction began in 1893 of the much larger imposing present berina Dom the outer facades and the inner walls were richly painted with scenes from the New Testament and from the time of the Reformation the hohan Solin Justified these over Dimensions with their gratitude for divine [Music] grace the old Cathedral at the L Garden was initially constructed between 1747 and 1750 under friederick the great as a barck church from 1817 to 1822 Carl Friedrich shinkle redesigned it but the cathedral retained its stylistic similarity to the high renesance Barack architecture of St Peter's cathedral in Rome finally official plans reconciling the different stages and stylistic developments were presented by Julius rashoff to King friederick Wilhelm IV [Music] once inside looking up towards the ceiling there's a striking Dome with it Exquisite paintings one of the other notable artworks includes Sour's [Music] organ the church was divided into three areas baptismal and wedding Church sermon church and Monument Church where among others the treasures and monuments of the Hans Solin the emperor family were to be found the Neo Barack Pulpit was designed by Anton Von [Music] Werner the main altar dates from 1850 [Music] [Music] the lower row of Windows shows the birth crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus the alter windows were destroyed during the war and reconstructed in the Years 1987 to 1997 the upper row of Windows represents the Christian conceptions of faith hope and charity [Music] Berlin's churches stand mainly for its historical importance and beautiful architecture [Music] Alex to balinas a cattle market in the Middle Ages a military parade square and an exercise ground for nearby Barracks until the mid 19th century Alexander Platz is the square name to honor Alexander I Zar of Russia on his visit to Berlin in 1805 layer upon layer of Berlin's Urban history is located in Alexander Platz interweaving centuries of social political and Architectural history history and repeatedly the subject of public debate and Urban Design [Music] competitions the Marian Kirk is the only reminder that a market quarter including its own church was established here in the late 13th century the first medieval Urban expansion of Berlin the buildings that grew up around the Marian Kirk over the following centuries were destroyed during the war the late Gothic Brick Church has survived to this day in its historical [Music] form Berlin Road's rat house literally red town hall is the seat of the Berlin Senate city government as opposed to Local District government which is housed in the district Town Halls to the west of Alexander Platz a large Square comes into view at the foot of belin's TV Tower with flower beds benches and fountains there a meticulously constructed Forum was built in the 60s to provide the new capital with an attractive location to linger and Mingle [Music] amongst the sites to look out for here are the 365 M TV tower Berlin's highest construction topped by a globe with a rotating viewing platform [Music] in potam the Royal seat of the Brandon B Prussian rulers Master Builders and artists created a fascinating ensembl of palaces parks and Gardens in the space of only three centuries the initial ideas on incorporating the surrounding lakes and Hills into the future picture of the city were already developed during the construction of the potam city Palace however it wasn't until the 19th century that the idea of pot Stam as a paradise aisle became a reality thanks to the the landscape architect Peter Joseph Len he United the various palaces and Parks into a unique Park landscape which was designated as a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO in [Music] 1990 at the Western end of the main prominade in s suusi Park known as the Hal Tali Rises a Monumental Palace building the new Palace whose High tamber or drummed Koopa is recognizable from a great [Music] distance the city of potam is known especially as having once been the favorite residence of the Prussian kings in the 18th and 19th centuries however the eventful history of this place is much older traces of human life have been found from times as old as the beginning of the Stone Age to 12,000 years ago the Roman entrenchment near Sacro was built in the Bronze Age about 3,000 years ago and is one of Europe's oldest military constructions during the 12th and 13th centuries the Germans occupied and settled in the region between the elb and odor Rivers at the end of the 12th century the German Potsdam is thought to have been built by magur rulers as a military settlement a square Castle Tower built of Stone close to a harval river Ford became the center of that settlement located near today's lback Bridge it wasn't until 1317 that a second document makes reference to potam this time referring to a small medieval town with a central marketplace with a church and Cemetery surrounded by some houses pot Stam first became important in the 17th century when Prince friederick William decided that the city of Berlin didn't provide sufficient scope for his desired level of prestige in potam he saw a remarkably fine location with wide branching usable waterways surrounded by Rolling arable land therefore he began consolidating his property in pot Stam from 1657 as the basis for building a second Royal seat alongside the traditional Court in Berlin in 1660 construction started to convert the old medieval castle into a palace in 1685 Fredick William issued the edict of potam by which he opened his country to the huguenots who'd been expelled from France when friederick the Great assumed the throne in 1740 he started a centuries long transfer of the Potsdam landscape after the 7-year war from 1763 to 1769 friederick the great built the largest of pot stam's palaces the new Palace in s suusi Park as a sign of strength and confidence [Music] the North and South auxiliary wings are crowned with domes surmounted by gilded Eagles between the pills what appears to be brick is actually a painted effect leaving only the South wing with exposed brick the captivating architecture of this former Prussian Royal seat and the elegant air of the history that still hangs over its parks and Gardens prove a quiet moment for millions of visitors who descend upon the town each year [Music] Sans sui Park was originally nothing more than a terorist garden which friederick the great had planted in 1744 to cultivate plums figs and vines on a hill just outside the gates of potam because the view was so beautiful the king had a summer residence built Above The Terraces just one year later in the following years more Palace buildings were blended into the gentle Hill landscape while the slopes were used for ornamental and vegetable gardens the barck garden was no longer in fashion during the Reigns of Frederick the great successors it was redesigned in the style of a landscaped Park and extended by Frederick William i [Music] 4 the Palaces and Gardens of Berlin and the province of Brandenburg bear witness to the artistic cultural and Architectural history of the region the stately Chinese house in the deer garden of sans sui Park is an impressive example of the widespread fashion and fascination with China which influenced the cultural tastes of Europe's Royal courts in the 18th century it's a charming and exotic Garden Pavilion shaped in the form of a clover leaf [Music] very near to S suusi Palace Frederick William II had the old adjustable windmill replaced by a larger windmill based on a Dutch model that included a stone foundation and a [Music] gallery no other Palace is more closely connected with the personality of Frederick the great than Sans sui Sans sui without a worry was the French name of his Palace though thanks to considerable care taken by its architect George WL Von Nobles dorf craft cman and Artisans it's hailed as Germany's [Music] verile Fredick II was the inspiration for Sans sui the architect for no dorf For Whom The King was both friend and Patron owed Fredick II his training in Rome Venice Florence Dresden and Paris the architect seems to have been amable to the desires of his Royal Patron whose concern was for both Splendor and simplicity the iconographic program reflects these paradoxes to evoke a Vine Grower's house the Southern facade was punctuated with 36 bant and bante by the sculptor [Music] Gloom the secondary side wings on the garden front are screened by two symmetrical rows of trees each terminating in freestanding trellist cazos richly decorated with gilded ornaments opposite the palace's westward opening court of honor are the communes designed by Carl Von gontard and Jean Laurent L styled in the same manner as the palace itself the two buildings house the Royal kitchens utilities Gardener shops Palace guards and servants [Music] between the two buildings stretches a curved colonade decorated with staty and obelisks which acted as a state entrance as well as a screen to Shield the view of the marsh Lands Beyond [Music] [Music] the ensembl of the Shadow and parks of potam is an exceptional artistic achievement whose eclectic and tional features reinforce its [Music] uniqueness a series of architectural and Landscaping masterpieces have been built within a single space illustrating opposing and reputedly irreconcilable Styles without detracting from the harmony of the general composition designed progressively over time [Music]