The Spandau Citadel is the oldest remaining structure in Berlin. The fortress was built in the 16th century, but the main tower dates back to about the 12th century. In spite of damage and additions, the Spandau citadel is one of the best preserved Renaissance fortresses in Germany and still gives us an impression of how people in the 16th century tried to defend themselves against enemies. Built to protect the city of Spandau, the Citadel has seen quite a few different uses, including an ammunitions factory during the Thirty Years War and a poison gas respository during WWII. In recent years it has been used as a museum and a construction school, and is a popular tourist spot.
The decision to modernise the fortress in accordance with contemporary knowledge of fortress construction was made at the regional council meeting in Spandau in 1559. The Elector justified it with the need to protect the citizens of Spandau and his courtly state in nearby Berlin. The plans were by Francesco Chiaramella de Gandino, and the first construction supervisor was Christoph Römer before the Italian himself took over the work. The building was completed in 1594 under Count Rochus zu Lynar.
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Berlins oldest church building from the 13th century, ideally situated in Nikolai Quarter, which was rebuilt in 1987 with concrete slab pre-fab housing. The church contains a permanent exhibition on the history of Berlin. The original church dates from approximately 1230, but only the base of the facade survives from that period. The church was rebuilt over a roughly one hundred year period in the 14th and 15 th centuries as a Gothic hall church. Restored in 1877, the church was destroyed in World War II and reconstructed by the East Germans in 1987. The Nikolaikirche was the parish church
Museum fùr Kommunikation Berlin (Museum for Communication)
This magnificent building in Leipziger Straße has been extensively renovated and has re-opened in 2000. It contains the united collections from east and west. In the basement you can admire the Blue Mauritius and Bell’s first telephone. The architecture of this builing is worth a visit alone. Admission free
The Rathaus Schöneberg is the city hall for the Borough of Schöneberg in Berlin. It was constructed between 1911-1914 for Schöneberg, at that time an independent city not yet incorporated into Berlin. After World War II, with Berlin divided, the Rote Rathaus (Red City Hall), the traditional seat of the Berlin government, was off limits to West Berlin. As a 'temporary' measure the Rathaus Schöneberg on Rudolph-Wilde-Platz became the city hall for West Berlin. After the re-unification, the Rote Rathaus has been once again the city hall for a united Berlin.
Rathaus Schöneberg on Rudolph-Wilde-Platz is the location where US President
The Berlin exhibition of a larger collection owned by Mr. and Ms. Hoffmann, housed here since 1998 in its own specially restored building complex. The main focus is on West European and American art in various media. The exhibition covers Western European and North American works of art in the most different media, raises thereby however no musealen requirement, but shows, how one lives and works with and in contemporary art. In each case in the summer those of hoping man change their installations.
Connection: U Weinmeisterstr.
Address: Sophie-Gipshofe (between Sophienstr. and Gipsstr.), Berlin-Mitte
Openings: Sat 1 1am -5pm, by
The Zoologischer Garten Berlin (zoological garden Berlin) is one of the biggest zoos in Germany and the one with the largest number of species of the world. It is located in Berlin Tiergarten near the homonymous S-Bahn and railway station in the city center. One of the Germany's first zoos, it was opened in 1844 on the initiative of Alexander von Humboldt and the Africa researcher Lichtenstein, who served as the first director of the zoo. Still before ten years the area was round around the station zoo-logical garden 33 an area, which many citizens of Berlin avoided rather. As
