Berlin
Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. With a population of 3.4 million within its city limits, Berlin is the country’s largest city. It is the second most populous city and the eighth most populous urban area in the European Union. Located in northeastern Germany, it is the center of the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan area, comprising 5 million people from over 190 nations.
First documented in the thirteenth century, Berlin was successively the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia (1701-1918), the German Empire (1871-1918), the Weimar Republic (1919-1933) and the Third Reich (1933-1945). After World War II, the city was divided; East Berlin became the capital of East Germany while West Berlin became a Western exclave, surrounded by the Berlin Wall from 1961-1989. Following German reunification in 1990, the city regained its status as the capital of all Germany.
Berlin is a major center of culture, politics, media, and science in Europe. Its economy is primarily based on the service sector, encompassing a diverse range of creative industries, media corporations, environmental services, congress and convention venues. The city serves as a continental hub for air and rail transport and is one of the most visited tourist destination in the EU. Other industries include traffic engineering, optoelectronics, information technology, vehicle manufacturing, biomedical engineering, and biotechnology.
The metropolis is home to world-renowned universities, research institutes, sporting events, orchestras, museums and personalities. Berlin’s urban landscape and historical legacy has made it a popular setting for international film productions. The city is recognized for its festivals, diverse architecture, nightlife, contemporary arts and a high quality of living. Berlin has evolved into a global focal point for young individuals and artists attracted by a liberal lifestyle and modern zeitgeist.
Map
Sights
- Alexanderplatz (with the Television Tower)
- Berliner Dom (Berlin’s cathedral)
- Berlin Hauptbahnhof (the new main Railway station)
- Brandenburg Gate
- Fernsehturm (the TV tower - the highest building in the city)
- Potsdamer Platz
- Reichstag building (home of the Bundestag)
- Rotes Rathaus (office of the Governing Mayor)
- Straße des 17. Juni (Street of the 17th of June)
- Siegessäule (Statue of Victory)
- Unter den Linden (the main boulevard)
Boroughs of Berlin
In 2001 the 23 boroughs of Berlin were changed into 12
- Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
- Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
- Lichtenberg-Hohenschönhausen
- Marzahn-Hellersdorf
- Mitte (Central)
- Neukölln
- Pankow
- Reinickendorf
- Spandau
- Steglitz-Zehlendorf
- Tempelhof-Schöneberg
- Treptow-Köpenick
Simple History of Berlin
- 1244 The first writings about a place called Berlin
- 1451 The Hohenzollern family moved to Berlin as the place to rule their country
- 1618 – 48 After the Thirty Years’ War in Germany, the number of Berlin’s people dropped to only 6000
- 1701 Berlin became capital of Prussia
- 1709 Berlin and its neighbor city Cölln (not Köln/Cologne) are combined to form the new Berlin
- 1806 The army of Napoleon Bonaparte moved into Berlin
- 1871 Berlin became capital of the German Empire
- 1920 The Old Berlin and some neighbour towns are combined into “Greater Berlin” (Groß-Berlin)
- 1945 The town is divided into four sectors, used by the allies of World War II. There is a Soviet Sector, an American Sector, a British Sector and a French Sector
- 1949 After foundation of the two Germanies, the town is still divided. There is now West Berlin and East Berlin
- 1961 The Berlin Wall was built by the communist government of East Germany between the two halves of Berlin
- 1990 After German reunification, the Berlin Wall is torn down, and there is only one Berlin again. The new Berlin becomes the capital of one Germany
