Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Reichstag
More than any other Berlin
landmark, the Reichstag - seat of
the German parliament - has
come to symbolize German his-
tory
(see pp10-11).
commemorate
Prussian victory
against Denmark in
the war of 1864.
After victory
over Austria in
1866 and France
1871, the
structure was
crowned by a
35-ton gilded statue of the god-
dess Victoria. There are excellent
views from the viewing platform
(see p39).
d
Großer Stern
•
Map M6
•
Apr-Oct: 9:30am-6:30pm daily; Nov-
Mar: 9:30am-5:30pm daily
•
Admission
charge
Kulturforum
This unique complex of
buildings features the best
museums and concert halls in
Berlin
(see pp32-5).
Statue on Siegessäule
Großer Tiergarten
The Großer Tiergarten is
Berlin's largest park, straddling
an area of 200 hectares (494
acres) between the eastern and
western halves of the town.
Formerly the Elector's hunting
grounds, it was redesigned in
the 1830s as a park by Peter
Joseph Lenné. At the end of the
19th century, the Siegesallee
was established in the east of
the park, more than 500 m (1640
ft) in length, lined by the statues
of monarchs and politicians.
After World War II, the starving
and freezing population chopped
down nearly all the trees for fire-
wood and dug up the lawns to
grow food. Thanks to reforesta-
tion work since the 1950s, Tier-
garten today has become Berlin's
favourite green space and the
lungs of the city.
d
Tiergarten
•
Map M5/6
Diplomatenviertel
In the late 19th century, an
embassy district sprang up. Its
extent is still marked today by
two pompous Fascist buildings
(Italian and Japanese embassies
of 1938 and 1943 respectively).
Most structures were destroyed
during World War II, and until the
reunification of Germany the
diplomatic buildings were left to
decay. Since 1999, new life has
been breathed into the diplo-
mats' quarter and, thanks to its
adventurous architecture, it has
been transformed into one of the
most interesting parts of Berlin.
Especially worth seeing are the
Austrian and Indian embassies on
Tiergartenstraße as well as, on
Klingelhöferstraße, the embassies
of the Nordic countries (
see p41)
and of Mexico.
d
Between Stauffen-
bergstr. and Lichtensteinallee as well as
along Tiergartenstr.
•
Map E4
Siegessäule
In the middle of Tiergarten
stands the 62-m (203-ft) high
Victory Column, erected to
Left
Roof of the Japanese Embassy
Right
The Austrian Embassy
For more on modern architecture
see pp40-41
97
