Berlin is a wonderful city to visit and is rich in culture and history. There is much to see and do here and a history lover will be kept entertained for a long time within this city. As is widely known, the city itself has had a turbulent past and has been ravaged by war. Also, it is only since 1989 that the city itself was unified and the evidence of the struggle and division is still seen today.
One of the most visited and interesting destinations in Berlin is the Berlin Wall. Construction began in 1961 and divided the Communist East and Democratic West. It was demolished in 1989 and the city began to rebuild itself. The wall is an important part of Berlins history and extremely interesting to visit. You can still see traces of the wall or visit the memorials or museums. In order to fully immerse yourself in the history, I would recommend visiting The Berlin Wall Memorial and Documentation Centre. It gives you some insight into the oppressive world that once existed here.
The number one rated attraction in Berlin according to Trip Advisor is the Pergamon Museum. This is a world renowned museum which explores ancient history and houses many priceless artefacts. One of the most famous artefacts is the Altar of Zeus which draws a large crowd. The Room of Greek sculptures is also especially amazing. As with most museums, go as early in the day as possible to beat the inevitable crowds, especially if you are travelling to Berlin during peak season.
When visiting Berlin and exploring its history, it is important to delve into all periods of the city’s history even the unpleasant times. World War 2 was a terrible time in Germany under the Third Reich. The Topography of Terror is a great way to examine Berlin during the Second World War. It was once the headquarters of the SS, The Secret State Police and the Reich Security main office. People can now see the extent of the Nazi parties’ power in Berlin and across Europe and examine the atrocious policies which the people in this building put into action. The photographs on display here are extremely interesting and will allow you a glimpse into that sad chapter of Berlin’s history.
Finally I would recommend that you visit The Holocaust Memorial following your visit of ‘The Topography of Terror’. It will show the real consequences of the decisions made during the war. It can be a very upsetting day but it’s important to remember those lost and it is also interesting from an historical perspective. The museum is underground and there is free entry but either reading up on the subject thoroughly or renting an audiobook is advised.
Of course there is much more historical gems to visit in Berlin such as Brandenburg Gate, Hohenschoenhausen Prison, the German History Museum and the Neues Museum to name a few. However, the four detailed above are must-sees for those that love history.
This guest blog post was written by Hannah of BerlinCityGuide.net, publishers of the free guide of things to do in Berlin