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Nikolaikirchplatz, Berlin-Mitte
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Located close to Alexanderplatz is the lovely Nikolaiviertel (Nicholas Quarter). Although it looks old, this area was completely re-created in 1987-88.
Its maze of little streets and medieval houses were created by architects to celebrate the 750th anniversary of the foundation of Berlin.
It is a great place to have a wander around, perhaps browse in some of the shops or stop off for a meal at one of the inviting looking restaurants.
Dominating the quarter is the Nikolaikirche (church), with its tall, thin twin spires. The church is Berlins oldest - built between 1220-1230 - though there has been several modifications to its appearance since then. Today the church is a museum and also a concert hall. It is appreciated by the experts because of its amazing acoustics. Leave a Comment
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 Details of the exterior wall. by Kakapo2
You would not think that the major parts of the church are of such recent date. When you walk around it you feel like stepping back in time, discovering historic looking details on the exterior walls, some beautifully carved stone plates with angels and coats of arms. Of course, also the atmosphere contributes to this feeling, walking through Berlin’s medieval history.
The church is consecrated to the patron saint of the merchants. The original building was a pillar basilica made of stone. At the end of the 13th century the nave was transformed into a brick hall-church, with three naves identical in height. This had not been seen before in the region and was copied everywhere within the next decades. The construction of the choir was started in the 1370s but interrupted by the big fire in the city in 1380. Probably it was not finished before 1400. In the middle of the 15th century the main nave, the northern addition to the choir and the Liebfrauenkapelle (chapel) in the south-west were built. From 1876 to 1878 Hermann Blankenstein removed most of the Baroque modifications and rebuilt the front towers; since then it has its symmetrical structure.
Open Tue – Sun 10am – 6pm, Wed 12noon – 8pm
Entry free Phone: (030) 24 00 21 62Directions: U-Bahn U2, station Klosterstraße or Märkisches Museum/Inselstraße S-Bahn station Alexanderplatz
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 St. Nicholas Quarter by Gerrem
It wasn't until 1979, in the run-up to the 750th anniver-sary of the city, before reconstruction of the area started. During the 8-year project, replicas of historic buildings were constructed in an attempt to recreate a historic quarter. The result is a nice tourist-attracting area with many restaurants, cafés and shops. Leave a Comment Directions: U-Bahn: Alexanderplatz
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When you look for the religious remainings inside the church, you see an interesting mixture of styles: The carvings in front of the organ are done in a simple style, mostly in shades of brown. When you look up to the ceiling, you see colouful paintings and stucco, partly with golden ornaments.
This, together with the technical exhibition in the foreground, make a very interesting mixture. Leave a Comment Directions: U-Bahn: Alexanderplatz, also Klosterstrasse
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 In the streets around
Nikolaikirche (left). by Kakapo2
A lot of nice cafés and restaurants are relaxing places far from the hustle and bustle of the city. If I remember right the Wirtshaus zum Nussbaum (well, the name-giving nut tree has disappeared…) is the oldest one. You can also browse through some very nice shops, with the unique Puppenstube (Doll’s House) where you find an incredible lot of historic and new dolls, teddy bears, and, of course, Berlin bears, including a huge selection of glazed china bears, very creatively painted by various artists. They are called Buddy Bears. They can stand on their feet and hands and have become very fashionable since some years.
I also loved the huuuuuuge and very old stuffed toy bears sitting opposite the neighbouring shop named – surprise, surprise - Teddy’s on their chairs, in front of Nikolaikirche.
But back to more serious subjects ;-) The reconstructed houses from the 17th, 18th and 19th century were originally located at other sites, for example the Ephraim-Palais on Mühlendamm which is a significant Baroque palace from 1766. Also the Gerichtslaube (Court Pavillion) in Poststraße is a copy. The already mentioned restaurant, Gasthof zum Nussbaum, was reconstructed true to the original which was built in 1507. At the church square you find a house from the 17th century in which the writer Gotthold Ephraim Lessing lived. The Knoblauchhaus (Garlic House; Garlic being a common German family name) in Poststraße is the quarter’s oldest residential house.
The Zille-Museum in Nikolaiviertel is dedicated to the legendary Berlin artist/cartoonist Heinrich Zille who lived from 1858 to 1929. He was dubbed “Raffael der Hinterhöfe” (Raffael of the Backyards) and surely most popular artist ever, an incredibly humourous critic of society. If you want to know something about Berlin’s spirit and the people’s special kind of humour, this is a great place to go.
Open Tue – Sun 11am – 6pm, Apr – Oct until 7pm
Entry fee 4 Euro Phone: (030) 246 32-500, Fax 246 32 502Directions: Opposite Town Hall U/S-Bahn station Alexanderplatz and Klosterstraße, S-Bahn station Hackesche HöfeWebsite: http://www.heinrich-zille-museum.de/ Other Contact: heinrich-zille-museum-berlin@t-o
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 A model of Berlin by christine.j
Quite interesting, but in the background you can still see the remainings of former religious times, which I found much more interesting. Leave a Comment Directions: U-Bahn: Alexanderplatz, or Klosterstrasse
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Of course, there has to be a bear somewhere in the historic centre of Berlin. And you will not be disappointed. To the right of the main entrance of Nikolaikirche you find a bear statue made of stone, the poor bear seemingly sitting behind bars – but you could see it in a positive way, as the bars are the support of a pavillion, and from his elevated position the bear (who holds a coat of arms) has a good view over the quarter. If you have a closer look you see that this bear ensemble is not just a scupture but a fountain called Bärenbrunnen, which means nothing else than Bear Fountain.
The bear is even a small bear, and that is what the name Berlin means: little bear, from the old German words Ber-lin, which would now be spelled as: Bärlein, “lein” being a suffix that gives the word a diminishing sense, identical with the German ending –chen, like in: Mädchen. Directions: U-Bahn U2, station Klosterstraße or Märkisches Museum/Inselstraße, S- and U-Bahn station Alexanderplatz
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I took shelter from a massive storm in the middle of the day, in this lovely historic quarter of the city, where the oldest church in Berlin stands with its famous twin spires, the Nikolai church. There are lots of lovely little interesting shops here, including a miniature book shop and a shop selling all kinds of bears! (stuffed ones of course :)
Also in this quarter is the 16th century reconstructed inn "Zum Nussbaum" (At the Nut Tree). I was sitting opposite in a cafe called Kartoffelhaus ( The Potato House). I wasn't in need of potato sustainance but that was all that was on the menu - so I ordered Potato cake from a dis-interested waitress who, realising I was only sheltering from the storm, proceeded to take as long as she liked with my order. Anyway, after a couple of coffees, the storm did eventually pass and I was able to move on. Leave a Comment Directions: U-Bahn: Alexanderplatz
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 St Nicholas Church by dabidc
This photo is the last one on my walk from west to east and is actually on the way back.
The return journey included passing St Hedwig's church then I headed more for Leipziger Strasse and followed that street until Postadamer place and then along Potsdamer strasse to Kurfustenstrasse and onto Tauentzienstrasse and to the Europa Centre and finally to the hotel. Leave a Comment Directions: U-Bahn: Alexanderplatz
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 Nikolaikirche is in the
centre of Nikolaiviertel. by Kakapo2
Tours last about 1 hour and cost 8 Euro pp (as 2007).
Phone (030) 247 232 78 for more information.
You can already find a lot of information on a really good website of a community group, called:
Aktionsgemeinschaft Nikolaiviertel e.V.
Propststraße 9
10178 Berlin-Mitte
Phone (030) 247 460 10
Fax (030) 247 460 130
Email: aktionsgemeinschaft@berlin-nikolaiviertel.de
Website: http://www.berlin-nikolaiviertel.de
On this website you find a list of all museums, shops and restaurants in Nikolaiviertel and lots more, including a fabulous map. The actual events are not up to date but this, I think, does not matter as this has no influence on the history. Directions: Opposite Town Hall U/S-Bahn station Alexanderplatz and Klosterstraße, S-Bahn Hackesche Höfe
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