BERLIN
CITY MAP MINIGOLF

Berlin Wall

The government of the GDR commenced construction of the Berlin Wall on 13 August 1961. This guarded concrete barrier encircled West Berlin until 1989, separating it from East Berlin and the German Democratic Republic. The primary intention was to prevent East German citizens from fleeing to the West. To ensure this, the barrier included guard towers and a wide area containing beds of nails, anti-vehicle trenches, and other defenses. Today, the site is a cultural heritage monument in Berlin. I've seen plenty of things built in this city, but nothing quite like these concrete walls.

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Reichstagsgebäude

Look up at the 47 meters of height before taking in the rest of the Reichstagsgebäude. Located on Platz der Republik in Berlin, this government building is a parliament building with architects including Paul Wallot, Norman Foster, and Paul Baumgarten. Its inception was in 1894. Today, the Reichstag is the seat of the Bundestag parliament and the meeting place of the Federal Convention. I've seen plenty of tourists stop here to admire the scale of the place, and it is certainly a sight to see from the street level.

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Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas

The Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas in Berlin is a memorial consisting of a 1.9-hectare site. Visitors first encounter 2,711 concrete slabs, or stelae, which vary in height from 0.2 to 4.7 metres. Each slab is 2.38 m long and 0.95 m wide. The memorial was designed by architect Peter Eisenman and Buro Happold, with its inception in 2005. Beneath the field of stelae is the Place of Information, an underground space that holds the names of approximately 3 million Jewish Holocaust victims.

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Sowjetisches Ehrenmal Tiergarten

Situated within the greenery of the Tiergarten, the Sowjetisches Ehrenmal Tiergarten is a monument, a cemetery, and a military museum. It is recognized as both a cultural heritage monument in Berlin and an architectural heritage monument. Construction began in 1945 and the site was finished in 1946. The structure reaches a height of 20 meters. It was erected by the Soviet Union to commemorate its war dead, specifically the 80,000 soldiers of the Soviet Armed Forces who died during the Battle of Berlin in April and May 1945.

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Brandenburger Tor

The Brandenburger Tor is a triumphal arch and a city gate. Its inception was in 1791, and its architects include Carl Gotthard Langhans and Heinrich Strack. You can see the influence of Greek Revival architecture in its design, which has helped it become a national symbol. I think the scale of the structure is what really catches your eye when you first arrive. It is an architectural landmark that people visit from all over the world, and it is a great spot to stop and look around for a while.

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Potsdamer Platz

Renzo Piano is one of the architects behind Potsdamer Platz. This site is a public square and traffic intersection in the centre of Berlin, Germany, and it functions as an architectural ensemble. You can find it about 1 km south of the Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate. The square takes its name from the city of Potsdam, which is some 25 km to the south west. I've always found the layout of this intersection quite a puzzle from the air.

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Gemäldegalerie am Kulturforum

This is not a small private collection; it is the Gemäldegalerie am Kulturforum. As an art museum in Berlin, it displays the main selection of paintings belonging to the Berlin State Museums. You can find the site in the Kulturforum museum district west of Potsdamer Platz. The architects of the museum include Hilmer & Sattler und Albrecht, Heinz Hilmer, and Christoph Sattler. I've always found the open layout of this particular district quite a treat to navigate, especially when the wind is just right for a quick flight.

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Leipziger Platz

Leipziger Platz is a square in the center of Berlin. It was started in 1732 and is known for its octagonal shape. If you are wandering the city, you can find it located along Leipziger Straße, just east of Potsdamer Platz. I've seen a lot of folks stop here to admire the geometry of the layout. It is a great spot to get your bearings before heading further into the heart of the city. It is a distinctive piece of the city's layout that has remained a central point for visitors.

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Checkpoint Charlie

Checkpoint Charlie is a Berlin border crossing. It was established in 1961 and became a symbol of the Cold War, which occurred from 1947 to 1991. This specific site was the Western Bloc's name for a Berlin Wall crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin. I always find it interesting how such a small stretch of road carries so much weight. You can pick out the layout of the crossing as you walk through the area, and you can still feel the tension of the divided city here.

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Jüdisches Museum

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Memoria Urbana Berlin

Constructed in June 2012, Memoria Urbana Berlin is a contemporary art sculpture by Spanish artist Juan Garaizabal. You can find it in the Mitte district, specifically in the middle of the Bethlehemkirchplatz. The piece is a significant presence in the square, measuring 25 x 15 x 31 metres in height. I've noticed the scale of it really catches the eye of everyone passing through the plaza. It is a bold example of public art that brings a modern aesthetic to this part of the city.

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Komische Oper Berlin

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Deutsches Historisches Museum

You might expect another art gallery, but this is the Deutsches Historisches Museum. It is a history museum in Berlin that occupies the 17th-century Zeughaus. The site is a major draw for the public, seeing 880,000 annual visitors. While the main museum is housed in the historic Zeughaus, there is also an attached Exhibition Hall designed by I. M. Pei. I've found the contrast between the old stone and the modern additions quite striking from the air, especially when you see how the two structures sit together.

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Ephraim-Palais

The Ephraim-Palais is a city palace, residential building, and art museum located in Berlin. Designed by architect Friedrich Wilhelm Dietrichs and originally constructed in 1766, it is built in the Rococo style. Today, the building is recognized as an architectural heritage monument and houses the Stadtmuseum Berlin. I've always thought the ornate details of this particular style make for a great backdrop for the city. It is a place where you can see the intersection of residential history and public art in one spot.

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Berliner Dom

This is not a Catholic cathedral, but the Berliner Dom, which is a Lutheran church, court church, and Lutheran cathedral. The building is an architectural heritage monument and a cultural heritage monument in Berlin. Designed by architect Julius Carl Raschdorff, the present collegiate church was built from 1894 to 1905. You can pick out the influence of Renaissance Revival and baroque revival styles in the design, which reaches a height of 98 meters. It is the largest Protestant church in Germany.

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Berliner Fernsehturm

The Berliner Fernsehturm is a television tower and observation tower that serves as a historic site. Its inception was 1968, and it was constructed between 1965 and 1969. Architects Hermann Henselmann and Günter Franke worked on the project, which resulted in a tower with a height of 368 meters. You can pick out the sphere against the skyline from almost anywhere in the city. I've found that the wind up there can be quite a challenge for a bird like me.

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Altes Museum

You will first notice the grand Neoclassical architecture of the Altes Museum. This building is both a history museum and an art museum, attracting 1,080,000 annual visitors. Karl Friedrich Schinkel was the architect of the site, which was built between 1825 and 1830. Because of its significance, the museum is a World Heritage Site and was officially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. I've noticed the columns make for a great spot to keep an eye on the crowds.

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Pergamonmuseum

The Pergamonmuseum is an architectural heritage monument built in the Neoclassical architecture style. Alfred Messel was an architect of the building, which was built from 1910 to 1930. It functions as an art museum and welcomes 1,298,000 annual visitors. You can find it on the Museum Island in the historic centre of Berlin, Germany. I've noticed the crowds are always thick here, but that makes sense for a place founded in 1910. It is a massive structure that really anchors the surrounding area of the Museum Island.

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Sophienkirche

You will find the Sophienkirche in the Spandauer Vorstadt part of the Berlin-Mitte region of Berlin, eastern Germany. This Protestant church is an architectural structure designed in the baroque architecture style. Johann Friedrich Grael was the architect of the building, which had its inception in 1712. Because of its historical and artistic value, the building is recognized as both a Kulturdenkmal and an architectural heritage monument. It remains a significant point of interest for those exploring the architectural history of the region.

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