Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
For more dead royals, albeit in less extravagant coffins, drop below to the crypt. Skip the
cathedral museum unless you're interested in the building's construction. The sanctuary has
great acoustics and is often used for classical concerts, sometimes played on the famous
Sauer organ.
HISTORIC BUILDING
STAATSRATSGEBÄUDE
The hulking 1960 State Council Building is the only remaining Schlossplatz structure from
the GDR era. It integrates the arched portal from the demolished original Berlin City Palace
from where Karl Liebknecht proclaimed a socialist republic on 9 November 1918.
The colourful window in the foyer is by the artist Walter Womacka and depicts scenes
from the German workers' movement. Somewhat ironically, the building is now used by a
private international business school financed by such blue-chip corporations as Bayer,
Deutsche Bank and Siemens.
HISTORIC BUILDING
NEUER MARSTALL
The 1901 neo-baroque Neuer Marstall by Ernst von Ihne once sheltered royal horses and
carriages. In 1918, revolutionaries hatched plans to topple the Prussian monarchy here; a
GDR-era bronze relief on the (north) facade facing Schlossplatz shows Karl Liebknecht pro-
claiming a German socialist republic from the Berlin City Palace that same year. The build-
ing now hosts concerts of the
Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler
, a prestigious music
academy.
