The Reichstag building in Berlin was constructed as the place where the Reichstag, the parliament of the German Empire, would convene. It was opened in 1894 and housed the Reichstag until 1933. It again became the seat of the German parliament in 1999 after a reconstruction led by master architect Sir Norman Foster. Today’s parliament of Germany is called the Bundestag. The Reichstag as a parliament leads back to the Holy Roman Empire and ceased to exist in the years of Nazi Germany (1933-1945). In today’s usage, the German term Reichstag thus refers to the building, while the term Bundestag refers to the institution.
The central dome and most of the ornamentation were removed during the reconstruction after the war. After the unification the decision was made to move the Bundestag from Bonn back to Berlin. This decision resulted in the latest reconstruction which started in 1995 and was completed in 1999.
History of The Reichstag building
Construction of the building began only well after 1871. Previously, the parliament had assembled in several other buildings in the Leipziger Straße in Berlin; but these were generally considered too small, so in 1872 an architectural contest with 103 participating architects was carried out to erect an all-new building. Work did not start until ten years later though, due to various problems with purchasing property for the new building and arguments between Wilhelm I, Otto von Bismarck, and the members of the Reichstag about how the construction should be performed.
Related Travel Information
The victory column (in German: Siegessäule) is one of the more famous sights of Berlin. Originally designed by Heinrich Strack after 1864 to commemorate the victory of Prussia in the Danish-Prussian war, by the time it was inaugurated on 2 September 1873, Prussia had also defeated Austria in the Austro-Prussian War and France in the Franco-Prussian War (1870/1871), giving the statue a new purpose. Different from the original plans, these later victories inspired the addition of the bronze sculpture of Victoria of 8.3 meters height and 35 metric tons of weight, designed by Friedrich Drake. Berliners, with their fondness for
The Reichsbank was one of the central banks of Germany.
It was founded on 1st January 1876 - shortly after the initial unification of Germany in 1871. The Reichsbank was founded by the take over of the central bank of Prussia. Its first president was Herrmann von Dechend.
Before the unification in 1871 Germany had 31 central banks - the Notenbanken (note banks). Each of the independent states issued their own money. In 1870 a law was passed that forbid the formation of further central banks. In 1874 a banking law was put in front of the Reichstag (the German parliament). After
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
