ICM'98
As one of Europe's leading cultural centers, Berlin has always impressed visitors with its diversity of museums, palaces and historic edifices. Berlin's historic significance as a former royal residence comes alive on almost every corner, especially in the eastern part of the city. Three opera houses, a large number of theaters, cinemas, cabarets and the renowned Berliner Philharmonie offer cultural experiences for everyone.
Situated at the end of the Tiergarten, the Brandenburger Gate is the most famous and beloved sight in Berlin. Walking eastward from there on the grand old boulevard "Unter den Linden", passing by the State Opera, Hedwig's Cathedral or the Old Museum, one can experience a microcosm of history.
One of the most magnificent sights is the Gendarmenmarkt with the French and the German Cathedral and the Schauspielhaus, constructed by Schinkel in classicist style. A statue of Schiller reminds one of Germany's great tradition of mind and muse.
No trip to Berlin would be complete without visiting the Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam. This is the place where the famous terraces, designed by Knobelsdorff, Neues Palais and the Orangerie can be found. In contrast, the buildings erected for the IBA (Internationale Bauausstellung) provide a guide through Berlin's most recent architectural trends.
Set in a landscape of expansive lakes and forests, there are many possibilities to enjoy Berlin's outdoors. The Grunewald Forest and Lake Wannsee cover a large area of the western part of the city and can easily be reached by a short ride on the S-Bahn.
Since the reunification, there are wonderful opportunities to take excursions, for example, a boat-ride on the river Spree passing by the Reichstagsgebäude and Pergamon Museum through the historic inner city - all the way to the Spreewald southeast of Berlin, crisscrossed by hundreds of romantic channels.
For more activities and information, have a look at other WWW servers in Berlin and Germany.
Please send suggestions and corrections to: helmberg@zib.de
Last modified: December 11, 1997