Unter den Linden, Berlin

Karl Friedrich Schinkel (1781-1841) designed the "Neue Wache" in the early 19th century. It is generally considered to be an outstanding example of neo-classical architecture.

For its first century, the Neue Wache served as a guardhouse for Prussian troops. In the 1920s, it became a Memorial to soldiers killed in World War I. During the DDR era, it was rededicated as a "Memorial to the Victims of Fascism and Militarism." Now, it has once again been re-dedicated as a Memorial to all the victims of war and dictatorship worldwide. Memory and memorials are always contextual and "political" in the broadest sense; sightseeing in Berlin makes this perfectly clear.

The atmosphere of the Neue Wache is austere and solemn. There is a circular opening in the roof of the building, underneath which are arrayed a variety of wreaths. There is a also a copy of a powerful 20th century sculpture, "Mother With Her Dead Son," by Kathe Kollwitz, a Berlin artist who lost her own son to World War I. This is a subdued, serious, and contemplative war memorial - and should be an early stop for all first-time visitors to Berlin.

Always a fashionable thoroughfare, this was the showcase of the former GDR. It was only this street, however, that looked imposing, as the immediate sidestreets used to be bleak and dilapitated. Nowadays it has been extensively renovated like all of Berlin. It boasts the überchic Hotel Adlon, lots of embassies, the Humbold university, cultural institutions, big shops. Oh yeah, and it's all very pretty, too!

This avenue has already a more than 450 years old tradition as one of the most beautiful and representive ways in Berlin. A lot of monumental buildings are on both sides of the street that goes from the "Schlossbrücke" to the "Pariser Platz" with the Brandenburg gate.

Of course, its not so popular with many Berliners who remember Soviet times, but its interesting building. Still it has the emblem of the U.S.S.R. in the stonework, and a big gate out front. Its along the famous Unter den Linden straße. Russians helped end WWII but also committed many atrocities upon the German people, so there is never any true winners in war.

Also if one is interested, and wishes to know visit the German-Russian Museum which details some of the history between the two countries and how it all came to a head in Berlin. Its located at another area:

German-Russian Museum Berlin-Karlshorst
or
Deutsch-Russisches Museum Berlin
Zwieseler Strasse 4,
Karlshorst 10318
S3 Karlhorst
Open: Tues-Sun 10am-6pm
Tel: 030 - 50 15 08 10

Bebelplatz is the site of one of the simplest, and most powerful, monuments that reflect on the evils of the Nazi era. On May 10, 1933, only months after Hitler’s ascent to power, a massive book burning took place here. In the center of the square, there is a glass panel (which you can walk across). It looks down into a deep cavity filled with empty white shelves, symbolizing the destruction of knowledge. At night, the shelves are lit up, and seem to go on downwards for ever. On especially dark nights, a column of light appears to rise from the glass, perhaps implying a ray of hope even in the darkest of times.

There is also a plaque with an eerily prescient quotation from Heinrich Heine, written in 1820: ‘Das war ein Vorspiel nur, dort wo Man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt Man am Ende auch Menschen’ (‘That was merely a prelude. Wherever they burn books, eventually they will burn people too’).

There are rarely many people around this spot, but we found it to be one of the most eloquent commentaries on the darker recent history of Germany (the memorial was designed in 1995 by Micha Ullman).

You could waste an entire afternoon just strolling up and down Unter den Linden. Stop buy the luxury cars shops and dream. Grab a park bench and watch the money walk by. It's a great location to be close to everything too. 5 min to the museums, 5 mins to reichstag, conects to Freidrich stras (where you can find my favorite attraction, Check Point Charlie) Also has the opera, bibbel platz and the university right there. If I had the money, I would stay right on this street. But, since I don't, I can walk it all I like.

My walk continued from the Brandenburger Tor to the east along the Unter den Linden. Tjis photo shows the Television Tower in Alexanderplatz and the facade of the Humbolt University from a point beside the statue of Prussian reformer and statesman Freiherr vom Stein.

Especially in winter time, the street Unter den Linden is beautiful! All the trees are decorated with millions off little lights. At the end of Unter den Linden you can see the Brandenburger Tor which is beautifully illuminated too.