Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Reichstag
The Cupola
The new Reichstag
cupola by Sir Norman
Foster affords breathtak-
ing views of Berlin. It is
open at the top to air the
building and - a touch of
irony here - to allow for
the dissemination of
debates throughout the
country. A ramp winds its
way up to the top.
Of all the buildings in Berlin, the Parliamentary
Building is probably one of the most symbolic.
The mighty structure, erected in 1884-94 by Paul
Wallot as the proud manifestation of the power of
the German Reich, was destroyed by arson in 1933
and bombed during World War II. In 1996, the
artist Christo wrapped up the Reichstag and, in
1994-9, the British architect Sir Norman Foster
transformed it into one of the most modern parlia-
mentary buildings in the world. Today it is the offi-
cial seat of the Bundestag, the German parliament.
Top 10 Sights
1 The Cupola
2 Plenary Hall
3 Portico “Dem deutschen
Volke”
4 Restored Façade
5 Restaurant Käfer
6 Installation “Der
Bevölkerung”
7 Memorial for Delegates to
the Reichstag
8 German Flag
9 Platz der Republik
0 Memorial for Victims of the
Wall
Main entrance of the
Reichstag
If a meal at the Käfer
restaurant exceeds
your budget, many
stalls in the vicinity
of the Reichstag sell
hot dogs.
Large numbers of
visitors come to see
the Reichstag cupola.
It is best to avoid
weekends or to start
queuing half an hour
before the opening
time. Tuesday is the
quietest day.
Plenary Hall
The newly designed
plenary hall is the seat of
the Deutscher Bundes-
tag, the German parlia-
ment, which has con-
vened here again since
20 April 1999. Technologi-
cally, the hall is one of
the most advanced in the
world. The federal eagle
caused a row: considered
too “fat , it had to be
slimmed down.
• Platz der Republik 1
•
Map F3, K2
• Open 8am-midnight
•
(030) 22 73 21 52
• www.bundestag.de
Portico “Dem
deutschen Volke”
The dedication “To the
German People” was
designed in 1916, against
the will of Wilhelm II.
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