Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left
Statues at Altes Museum
Centre
Schloss Bellevue
Right
Portico of the Konzerthaus
Historic Buildings
Brandenburger Tor
More than a mere symbol,
the Brandenburg Gate is synony-
mous with Berlin
(see pp8-9).
with which it is built, harks back
to the proud days when Berlin
became the capital of the new
Empire. Built in 1861-9 accord-
ing to designs by Hermann Fried-
rich Waesemann, the town hall
was one of Germany's largest
and most magnificent buildings,
built to promote the splendour
of Berlin. The structure was mod-
elled on Italian Renaissance
palaces, and the tower is remi-
niscent of Laon cathedral in
France. The exterior was deco-
rated with
Die steinerne Chronik
(the stone chronicle) in 1879,
depicting scenes from the city's
history
(see p131)
.
d
Rathausstraße
15
•
Map G3, K6
•
8am-6pm daily
Schloss Charlottenburg
This palace boasts Baroque
and Rococo splendours and a
beautiful park, making it one of
the most attractive in Germany
(see pp28-31).
Schloss Bellevue
Built according to plans by
Philipp Daniel Boumann in
1785-90, this palace was the
residence of the Hohenzollerns
until 1861. Since 1994 the stately
building with its Neo-Classical
façade has been the official resi-
dence of the President of the
Federal Republic. The modern,
egg-shaped Presidential Offices
stand immediately next to the
old palace.
d
Spreeweg 1
•
Map E4
•
Not open to the public
Konzerthaus
The Concert Hall, one of
Karl Friedrich Schinkel's master-
pieces, was until recently known
as
Schauspielhaus
(theatre). The
building has a portico with Ionic
columns, and a large number of
statues of allegorical and histori-
cal personages, some riding lions
and panthers, as well as deities,
muses and bacchants.
d
Gendarmenmarkt 2
•
Map L4
•
10am-8pm daily
•
(030) 203 09 21 01
Reichstag
The seat of the Deutscher
Bundestag, the German parlia-
ment, with its spectacular cupo-
la, is a magnet for visitors
(see
pp10-1).
Berliner
Rathaus
Berlin's Town
Hall, also known
as “Red Town
Hall” because of
the red bricks
from Branden-
burg Province
Hackesche
Höfe
This complex
of 19th-century
warehouses
consists of nine
interlinked court-
yards, some of
Southern façade of the Berliner Rathaus
38
