Once a lively area, this now houses a large Turkish community, and historically is the home to some of Berlin’s most disturbing sites. Nazi crimes are detailed at the open-air Topographies des Terrors, while the Haus am Checkpoint Charlie documents the effects of the Berlin Wall. Finally the modern and innovative Judisches Museum documents 2000 years of Jewish history.
Area highlights –
Berlin Wall – Some of the wall remains to this day, in particular within this area. The rest of the walls seem to be now sold in small pieces in shops for 3 Euros (yes we got a piece).
Topographie des Terrors – A shocking exhibition detailing the Nazi crimes housed within the former Gestapo and SS headquarters. A preserved section of the Berlin wall runs along the grounds of this open air museum.
Checkpoint Charlie – Named after the word that signifies C in the International Phonetic Alphabet, this notorious border was once the only checkpoint for foreigners between East/West Germany (American and Soviet sectors). In 1990, the checkpoint was formally closed, and today there are no longer the gates of separation.
Judisches Museum Berlin – This modern building is meant to represent the disjointed Star of David, and with houses a history of the German Jewish community. The long winding galleries with slanting floors and sharp zigzag turns are designed to invoke the feeling of loss and dislocation.
Garden of Exile – This comprises of 49 tilted pillars to represent the foundations of the state of Israel in 1948 plus one for Berlin, the garden also symbolises the forced exile of German Jews.
Viktoriapark – This rambling park has several beautiful but artificial waterfalls
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