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Streets and Squares in Germany
Sometimes when you rush from one attraction to another, you don't notice that you're actually crossing a famous square or driving along a historical street. While in Berlin, keep your eyes open because Berlin's streets and squares are some of the city's greatest landmarks. Unter den Linden, one of the most famous streets in Berlin, is lined with over three centuries worth of old linden trees and will take you from the Schlossbruecke through the Museum Island all the way to Brandenburg Gate at Pariser Platz. The most popular shopping street is the long and diverse Kurfuerstendamm or Ku'damm, offering a multitude of shops and cultural venues. Also, visit the centre of former East Berlin, Alexander Platz, and the only recently built-up Potsdamer Platz, which with its shopping mall and cinema complex has now become a popular destination.
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Alexander Platz
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Town: Berlin
Address: Alexander Platz
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| Alexander Platz is a popular square in Berlin; it was one of the busiest places in the city at the beginning of the 19th Century. Initially, the square took the name of Ochsenmarkt or Ox market, but after the visit of Alexander I it was renamed to Alexanderplatz. Its architecture is predominantly socialistic, as the place is in the centre of East Berlin. The bombs of World War II destroyed most of the buildings and the new ones were built in the typical grandiose socialist style – a huge television tower and plain bulky buildings stand there. Fernsehturm, the TV tower represents the most attractive site on the square. It was built in 1969 by German architects and Swedish experts with a total height of 365 metres. On the top of the tower there is a revolving restaurant with a viewing platform and a splendid panorama. Alexander Platz has other monuments, such as the
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Arkonaplatz
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Town: Berlin
Address: Arkonaplatz
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| Every Sunday in Mitte, a trendy district of Berlin, at Arkonaplatz there is a nice flea market. The market features many stalls with a great selection of products for the house – accessories, furniture, decorations etc. You can also find clothing and curious antiques here, but it is better to come early for the real bargains. When you wish to take a break and have a coffee, there is a number of great cafes and snack bars nearby.
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Bebelplatz
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Town: Berlin
Address: Bebelplatz
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| Bebelplatz was designed by Frederick the Great and is renowned as the centre for arts and science. The buildings which are now popular tourist sites were built at the time of Friedrich II, who wished to create an area that would reflect his great political power. Thus, an academy, an opera house and royal palace were constructed and the area became known as the Frederick’s Forum. Later it was renamed to Opernplatz and gained its current name in 1947, after August Bebel, a social-democratic leader of the epoch.
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Breitscheidplatz
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Town: Berlin
Address: Breitscheidplatz
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| Breitscheidplatz is one of the main squares in Berlin, situated in the western part of the city. The area lies between the Kurfuerstendamm, the Tauentzien and Budapester-Strasse. The square was constructed in 1889 on the field with the hunting grounds of Kurfürst Joachim II. Initially, the place was called the Gutenbergplatz, later - Augusta-Viktoria Platz and currently it is named after Rudolf Breitscheid who supported the social democracy and died in a Nazi concentration camp in 1944. It so happened that later the area was used for building a church, following the traditions in the Neo-Romantic style and was constructed by Franz Schwechten, the royal architect of Wilhelm II.
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Chamissoplatz
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Town: Berlin
Address: Chamissoplatz
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| Chamissoplatz is home to Bio-Markt – one of the cosy markets set the district of Kreuzberg, attracting visitors on Saturdays. It is small but there are many stalls selling various products. Thus, you can choose from among the organic vegetables and fruits, fresh dairy products, nuts and more. The place is truly charming, so you will enjoy your early shopping.
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Friedrichstrasse
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Town: Berlin
Address: Friedrichstrasse
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| Friedrichstrasse is the main shopping street in the heart of Berlin, running from the old Mitte district to the Hallesches Tor in the Kreuzberg district. It is an important transportation junction, linked to the Leipziger Strasse and Unter den Linden, as the U6 U-Bahn line runs below the area. The area is great for shopping at the numerous department stores and for sightseeing, since it is close to the historic part of the old government quarter.
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Gendarmenmarkt
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Town: Berlin
Address: Gendarmenmarkt
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| Gendarmenmarkt is one of the most renowned squares in all of Europe. It dates back to the end of the 17th Century, when J.A. Nering designed the plan of its construction. In the beginning, it was known as Linden Markt, later it was renamed to Friedrichstädtischer Markt and Neuer Markt. Its current name comes from the Regiment Gens d'Armes, as their sentry boxes and stables were placed there in the 18th Century. Afterwards, the square was redeveloped according to the plans of Georg Christian Unger. During World War II, Gendarmenmarkt was badly damaged, but today it's completely restored. Currently, it is a peaceful place with attractive landmarks, including the Französischer Dom, Deutscher Dom and the Konzerthaus. In the middle of the Gendarmenmarkt stads the statue of the famous German poet Friedrich Schiller.
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Karl-Marx-Allee
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Town: Berlin
Address: Karl-Marx-Allee
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| The Karl-Marx-Allee is a renowned socialist boulevard in Berlin, constructed by the German Democratic Republic in the 50s. Between 1949 and 1961 the boulevard was called Stalinallee and later it was renamed after the great Karl Marx. It was a project included in the post-war reconstruction programme of East Germany and designed by several talented architects, including Henselmann, Hopp, Leucht, Hartmann, Souradny and Paulick.
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