1. BRANDENBURG GATE
WHAT ARE THE BEST HISTORIC SITES IN GERMANY?
Few historic sites in Germany have such political, social and symbolic importance as the Romanesque
gateway known as the Brandenburg Gate. Commissioned by King Frederick William II of Prussia it
stood in the entrance to boulevard Unter den Linden, which led to the city palace.
Visitors from around the world come to see the Brandenburg Gate and its ornate carvings, including
its dramatic depiction of Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory, driving a horse drawn chariot.
Today, among other things, it is seen as a symbol of German reunification.
2.BERLIN WALL
The Berlin Wall ranks amongst the most iconic of all the historic sites in Germany. An 87 mile long
concrete barrier between East and West Berlin, it became a symbol of the Cold War and an
embodiment of the so-called ‘Iron Curtain’ between eastern and western Europe.
The Berlin Wall was a matter of great controversy throughout its existence, with world leaders
continually calling for it to be torn down, including John F Kennedy’s famous declaration of “Ich bin
ein Berliner” and Ronald Reagan’s 1987 speech when he implored, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this
wall!".
The fall of the Berlin Wall finally occurred on 9 November 1989 and the wall was almost completely
dismantled in the days and weeks that followed. Very few segments of the wall remain. The largest,
1.3 kilometer, section can be found at the open air East Side Gallery, although small sections are
dotted throughout the city
4.BRUHL PALACES
The Bruhl Palaces (Schlosser Bruhl) are comprised of the Augustus Palace and the Falkenlust Palace,
built in the 18th century for the Archbishop and Elector of Cologne, Clemens August of Bavaria.
Begun in 1725 atop the ruins of a medieval moated castle and completed in 1768, Augustus Palace is
considered a masterpiece of the German Rococo style, the highlight of which is its staircase by
Balthasar Neumann. Augustus Palace was Clemens August's favourite residence and, with its
proximity to Bonn, was used as a government reception hall from 1949 until the seat of government
was returned to Berlin. Falkenlust Palace was constructed between 1729-1737 and served as the
hunting lodge of Clemens August.The Bruhl Palaces together with their extensive gardens are on the
UNESCO World Heritage list and are open to the public as museums