It’s the capital and biggest city in Germany, and in this post, you’ll discover our list with the top 8 historical sites in Berlin.
Related: Check out some of these famous historical sites in Paris as well!
8 historical sites in Berlin
1. Reichstag Building
The Reichstag Building is one of the main historical buildings in Berlin and was built in the 19th century to house the Imperial Diet of the German Empire. It was completed in 1894 and served its original purpose until 1933, which is the year that the Nazis rose to power.
This was also the year the building was burned and severely damaged, allegedly by a young Dutch communist. He was charged and ended up being executed. After World War II, the building fell into disuse until the reunification of Germany in 1990. It was renovated and has been used since 1999 as the meeting place of the German Parliament, also referred to as the “Bundestag.”
One of its most remarkable features is the glass dome, which allows visitors to look directly down at the meetings of the government. This was built to emphasize the difference between the current German government and the governments of its dark past.
2. Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate is one of the most iconic landmarks in Berlin and one of the most famous arches in the world. This neoclassical monument was built in the 18th century on the orders of King Frederick William II of Prussia. It was completed between 1788 and 1791.
It’s built on the location of a former entrance gate of the city which led to a town called Brandenburg an der Havel. Right now it’s one of the main symbols of the city of Berlin and Germany in general and its location in the city center is often used for major historical events.
3. Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall is one of the reminders of the city’s past, as it used to divide the western and eastern sides of Berlin from 1961 to 1989. The all included guard towers and it was impossible to freely travel from east to west Berlin without a legitimate reason.
It’s estimated that about 5,000 people managed to escape from East Berlin to the west, and approximately 200 people died attempting to do so. The wall was torn down in 1989, and right now, various monuments related to these tragic events and reminders of the Berlin Wall can be found in multiple spots in the city of Berlin.
4. Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie is the name that was given to the most famous of all crossing between East and West Berlin. It’s located right in the center of the city and it became the ultimate symbol of the madness that the Berlin Wall had created during the Cold War.
Right after the Berlin Wall was completed in 1961, it briefly looked as if a new war was going to unfold as American and Russian tanks faced each other at Checkpoint Charlie. Luckily, nothing happened and after the Fall of the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie became another reminder of the city’s past and became a tourist attraction that houses a museum.
5. Berliner Fernsehturm
The Berliner Fernsehturm is one of the most famous towers in Europe and was constructed by the government of East Germany between 1965 and 1969. It was intended to demonstrate the power of the Communist Party and has since become a symbol of the city of Berlin.
The tower stands 368.03 meters (1,207.45 feet) tall which makes it the tallest structure in Germany and the third-tallest structure in the European Union. It has an observation deck at a height of about 203 meters (660 feet) which provides amazing views over the city of Berlin.
6. Berlin Cathedral
The Berlin Cathedral is a large Protestant Church that was constructed between 1894 and 1905 on the orders of German Emperor William II. It’s the largest Protestant Church in Germany and was constructed in the Renaissance and Baroque Revival Styles.
One of the most remarkable facts about the Berlin Cathedral is that it’s not just used for church services but also serves as a venue for other events such as state ceremonies and even concerts. The church was damaged during World War II and a restoration project was completed in 2002.
7. Charlottenburg Palace
The Charlottenburg Palace is a large palace located in the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf district of Berlin, just west of the historical city center. It was built between 1695 and 1713 and greatly expanded during the 17th century.
The palace was designed in the Baroque style and includes extremely lavish Baroque interior decorations. The palace also has an amazing garden which is surrounded by woodlands. It as badly damaged during World War II but has been completely renovated and is now a popular tourist attraction in Berlin.
8. Potsdamer Platz
The Potsdamer Platz is one of the most important public squares in Berlin and is located right in the historical city center, about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) to the south of the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag Building.
The square was named after the city of Potsdam which is located about 25 kilometers (16 miles) to the southwest of the city of Berlin. It marks the spot that the main road from Potsdam arrived in the city, similar to how the Brandenburg Gate was named after the town Brandenburg an der Havel.
The square as completely destroyed during World War II and left abandoned during the entirety of the Cold War. It is now the site of major developments and literally breaths the new spirit of Berlin after the German Reunification in the early 1990s!
This concludes our list with the top 8 historical sites in Berlin, an amazing city to visit full of historical buildings and new projects that define the new Germany!
