Berlin City Guide - Reichstag - Berlin Wall

Reichstag
British architect Norman Foster has transformed the Reichstag, which was built at the end of the 19th century and has long since been emblematic of the German State. It was damaged in the fire of 1933, which marked Hitler's consolidation of power, and has now been renovated for the Bundestag (People's Assembly) of a reunited Germany. The dome is meant to symbolise the transparency of the democratic government and visitors can pass between its layers to witness the decision-making chamber of the government. There are free hourly talks on the visitor's gallery of the plenary during weeks when parliament is not in session - check this on the website and book in advance. Talks in English take place at 1200 on Tuesdays. Guided tours of the Reichstag also take place when parliament is not sitting. They last 90 minutes and are held at 1030, 1330, 1530 and 1830. Booking in advance in writing is recommended. The walk through the dome itself is stunning, culminating in sweeping views of the city. The rooftop restaurant (tel: (030) 2262 9933) provides a way to beat the queues.

Platz der Republik
Tel: (030) 2270.
Website: www.bundestag.de
Opening hours: Daily 0800-2400 (last admission 2200).
Free admission.

Berlin Wall
Much of the Wall or the 'Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart', as the GDR (German Democratic Republic) authorities liked to call it, has succumbed - first to enthusiastic revellers and souvenir hunters and then more significantly to developers; only a few sections remain. The East Side Gallery (website: www.eastsidegallery.com), along Mühlenstrasse (S-Bahn Ostbahnhof), emerged in the post-Wall years as a poignant symbol of new hope, as it was covered with inspiring artwork. The Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer is a small graffiti-free stretch of the Wall that has been preserved by the authorities. A visitor centre has information about the Wall years, while a chapel is dedicated to the 80 or so victims that died trying to cross it. Perhaps the best place to get a sense of what the divided city was like is the Mauermuseum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie, located next to the site where the famous border-crossing stood. A number of permanent exhibitions document the history of the Wall and place it into context, as well as record the famous paintings on the Western side of the division.

A short walk from Checkpoint Charlie is the Topographie des Terrors, an informative open-air exhibition focused around a preserved section of wall and the former headquarters of the SS and Gestapo (demolished). Torture and suffering is documented, and an audio tour in English is available.