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Museums and Galleries

With the renuification, Berlin is now a new capital and is one of Europes most interesting and exciting city's for art, architecture and artefacts.

Since the fall of the Wall Berlin has gone through an astronomical change and amid all the modernisation, there are fasinating layers of the city's history, from war and violence to imperialism. The Germans are also addicts for culture and art making Berlin a veritable treasure chest of galleries and museums.

The Brandenburg Gate

The Brandenburg Gate was commisioned by Friedrich Wilhelm II to represent peace and was first constructed in 1791. Designed by Karl Gotthard Langhans, the Court Superintendent of Buildings, and the main architectural design of this landmark hasn't changed and ironically the gate was incorporated into the Berlin wall during the years of Communist government. Berlin's most famous landmark stands as a symbol of the reunification of the two sides of the city.

Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche

Located at Breitscheidplatz in Charlottenburg, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche is a church that was bombed by the British in the Second World War. It's very atmospheric and a reminder of the devastation upon the city. The church has been reconstructed and offers beautiful stained glass windows.

The Berlin Wall

The Fall of the Berlin Wall, which will always be used as a symbol for the end of the Cold War. Originally erected one hundred miles long and construced by the Communist government of the former east. It was built so the East could avoid aggression from the West and to keep the east Germans from feeling to the West. Not much remains of the wall now apartment from a few sections near the Hauptbahnof and the Reichstag. These sections have been preserved to remind Berliners of the 28-year division of their city. You'll also find an interesting outdoor gallery of art from local and city artists.

New National Gallery

[Potsdamerstrasse 50] Home to a vast exhibitions of the National Collection and some so big that the permanent exhibitions have to be temporarily taken down. You're find some exciting exhitions from the classic modernist, post modern to the present. [Open Tuesday to Friday 09:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm]

Deutsche Guggenheim Berlin

[Unter den Linden 13-15, Mitte 30 20 20 93 0] Not quiet the Guggenheim of New York or Bilbao but an excellent museum none the less. The museum is a joint venture between the Deutsche Bank and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. Here you can find such artits such as James Rosenquist, Andreas Slominski, and Bill Viola exhibiting here. The focus is on young and inovative artists.

Die Museuminsel - Berlin's Museum Island

[Berlin-Mitte] Located in the heart of Berlin, Museum Island is a collection of museums all within minutes of each other. This was location of the first settlements in Berlin during the 13th century and has been at the center of action ever since. Here you'll find such delights as the Schlossplatz [Castle Square], formerly known as the Marx-Engels Square where The Hohenzollern-family, first ruled Prussia from their seat of power here for about 500 years. The Neo-Classical Altes Museum which houses Greek and Roman antiquities and the Neues Museum which houses Egyptian Antiquities. Finally the magnificent Pergamon Museum, which houses reconstructed parts of ancient towns.

Checkpoint Charlie Museum

[Friedrichstrasse 43-45, Kreuzberg] The Checkpoint Charlie Museum is dedicated to the people who tried to escape from the former East Germany to the West. Here you'll find interesting exhibitions of large black and white photos depicting escape attempts of the Eastern Berliners to the West. It has an eiry feel to it and contains much of the original signage inluding the “You are now leaving the American sector” board that was at the crossing. Well worth a visit.