Once a royal hunting estate, Tiergarten is the largest park in Berlin and is situated in the geographical centre of the city. A half a kilometre Triumphal Avenue was built in the eastern section of the park at the end of the 19th Century; this is lined with statues of the country’s rulers and statesmen.
Area highlights –
Grosser Stern (the great Star) – a vast roundabout at the centre of the park has five large roads leading out of it in the shape of a star. In the centre is the Triumphal column (which was being worked on at the time so had to borrow a picture). Surrounding the roundabout are various monuments representing rulers of Germany.
Schloss Bellevue – This palace with a white Neo-Classical facade is the official residence of the German Federal President.
Haus der Kulturen der Welt – house of world culture, with the nickname “the pregnant oyster” although Dan and I though it looked like it might be a giant transformer head ready to come out the ground.
Regierungsviertel – this government building is a very bold modern concept, it is the home of the German Chancellor.
Reichstag – built to house the German parliament, the Reichstag was indented as a symbol of national unity and to showcase the aspirations of the new German Empire. On the night of 28th February 1933, a great fire destroyed the main hall. The Communist were blamed, accelerating a political witch-hunt by the Nazis. Rebuilding transformed the Reichstag into a modern meeting hall crowed with an elliptical dome with a viewing gallery. There are 360 degrees views of the city however one should try to avoid the long queues.
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