Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left
Inside the Konzerthaus
Centre
Deutscher Dom
Right
Front view of Altes Museum
Gendarmenmarkt
This square, whose
strict layout is reminiscent
of an Italian Renaissance
piazza
, is probably the most
beautiful in Berlin. To the left
and right of Schauspielhaus -
today's Konzerthaus - stand
the twin towers of Deutsch-
er and Französischer Dom
(German and French
cathedrals), dating back to
the late 18th century.
Gendarmenmarkt, named after a
regiment of
gens d'armes
sta-
tioned nearby, was built at the
end of the 17th century, as a
market square. The Schauspiel-
haus (theatre) on the north side
of the square, built by Schinkel in
1818-21, was used as a theatre
until 1945. Damaged in World War
II, it was reopened as Konzerthaus
(concert hall) in 1984. A statue of
the playwright Friedrich Schiller
stands in front of the building.
Französischer Dom, to its right,
is a prestigious Late-Baroque
building; concealed
behind it is the French
Friedrichstadtkirche, a
church serving Berlin's
Huguenot community. The
Deutscher Dom opposite,
built in 1708 on the south side
of the square for the Reformed
Protestant Church, did not
receive its first tower
until 1785. Today it has an
exhibition on democracy
in Germany.
d
Mitte
•
Map L4
Figure of Athena in
Pergamonmuseum
Museumsinsel
Museum Island, a UNESCO
World Heritage Sight, is one of
the most important complexes
of museums in the world, hold-
ing major arts collections and
imposing full-scale ancient struc-
tures. Based here are the Perga-
monmuseum, the Alte National-
galerie (the old national gallery),
Bodemuseum and Altes and
Neues Museum. The Neues
Museum will reopen in 2008
(see
pp20-23 and 46-9).
d
Pergamon-
museum, Bodestr. 1-3
•
Map J5
•
10am-6pm Tue-Sun, till 10pm Thu
•
(030)
20 90 55 55
d
Alte Nationalgalerie
•
Bodestr. 1-3
•
Map J5
•
10-6pm
Tue-Sun, until 10pm Thu
•
(030) 20 90 55
66
•
Admission charge
The Huguenots in Berlin
In 1685, the Great Elector issued
the famous Edict of Potsdam,
granting asylum in Berlin to
around 20,000 Huguenots, who
were persecuted in their native
France because of their
Protestant faith. Skilled academ-
ics and craftsmen, they moulded
the social and cultural life
of the city and enriched Berlin
with the French art of living.
Today, still, the French community
worships in the Friedrichstadt-
kirche on Gendarmenmarkt.
Antique vase in the Pergamonmuseum
Konzerthaus in Gendarmenmarkt:
www.konzerthaus.de
114
