Day 3: Walk around the East of the Centre

This part of Berlin, belonging to the Mitte district, is the historic centre of Berlin. A settlement called Berlin was first established here on the Eastern bank of the Spree in the 13^th Century. Together with its twin settlement on the opposite bank, Colln, it grew in to a town. This area traces some of the earliest history of the city including the oldest surviving church.

Area highlights –

World clock – a convenient meeting place within this shopping area.

Frensehturm – Built in 1969 the television tower is the city’s tallest structure at 365m in height.  We took the speedy lift to the viewing platform situated in the steel clad sphere. Above the viewing platform is a revolving restaurant with reasonable prices for a next visit. 

Rotes Rathaus – The cities red town hall, which used to stand amongst a densely built up area, now rises from an empty square.  

Marienkirche – St Mary Church was first established as a parish church in the second half of the 13th Century. The church was once surrounded by building, but today stands alone in the shadows on the television tower.

Neptunbrunnen – Neptune fountain, once stood in front of the former Berlin Castle but moved to its present site in 1969.

Nikolarkirche – Is the oldest sacred building of historic Berlin, a gothic brick church with a two tower facade, within is an exhibition to Berlin’s history.  

Birth place of a city – here is the marker point where the city is believed to have originated.

Stadthaus – built in 1911 by Ludwig Hoffmann, this now houses some of the departments of the town hall.

Parochialkirche – Once one of the most beautiful Baroque churches in Berlin, however WW II had a devastating effect with the interior being completely destroyed. Although the outside has been restored the inside of this church remain hollow.

Stadtgericht – A huge Court of Justice building with excellent interior

Franziskaner Klosterkriche – Franciscan church now in ruins