A few pictures from Berlin – A short tour through the historic center of the German capital 🇩🇪🍻🥨

I know that opinions differ when it comes to Berlin and that there is plenty of scope for discussion and debate. But I don't want to get into that today, as it wouldn't get us anywhere. Instead, I'd like to show you a few photos of the German capital, which were probably taken in a similar order by quite a few tourists before and after me. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but perhaps in some of you the pictures will spark a little interest in this truly fascinating city.

We'll start in front of the former Reichstag building, which is within walking distance of Berlin's main train station. Today, it houses the Bundestag, the German parliament, and is one of the great symbols of German reunification.

Visitors can tour the interior of the Reichstag building and watch the members of parliament go about their work from the glass dome that was added before the building was re-opended again. Unfortunately, the area in front of the building always seems a bit dry and dreary and could use a little more freshness and elegance.

Not far from the Reichstag stands Berlin's most famous landmark, the Brandenburg Gate. Built between 1788 and 1791, it is more than just a building in the center of the city—it is a living monument that commemorates Germany's turbulent history. Which becomes clearly evident when visiting the German capital, no trip to Berlin is complete without seeing this gate.

And if you're lucky, a few soap bubbles will provide the lightheartedness that is sometimes necessary to help you get through life.

And now we are standing in front of the French Cathedral, which is part of the Gendarmenmarkt complex, which has recently undergone restoration and now shines in new glory. You can also climb to the top of the cathedral and enjoy a relaxing view of the city center.

Speaking of cathedrals, there is more than one in Berlin. The largest and probably best known is Berlin Cathedral, which is actually impossible to miss when walking through the historic center of the capital.

Berlin Cathedral was built between 1894 and 1905 in the Neo-Renaissance style, based on plans by Julius Raschdorff and commissioned by Emperor Wilhelm II. The aim at the time was to create a Protestant counterpart to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. I think the result is rather impressive: a monumental church with a 98-meter-high dome and space for over 1,300 visitors.

The basement houses the Hohenzollern crypt, one of the most important dynastic burial sites in Europe. Over 90 members of the Prussian royal family are laid to rest here, including electors, kings, and emperors. The crypt is currently being restored and is expected to be open to the public again by 2026. Too bad we couldn't have a look there. During World War II, the cathedral, like many buildings around it, was severely damaged. Reconstruction did not begin until the 1980s – the outside was reconstructed by 1984 and the inside was restored to its original state by 2002.

A visit is definitely worthwhile, and if you climb the 270 steps to the top of the dome, you will be rewarded with a breathtaking view over much of Berlin.

And on we go. Now we are standing in front of the equestrian statue of Frederick William IV, which towers directly in front of the Old National Gallery. It was created between 1875 and 1886 and depicts the formerPrussian king who reigned from 1840 to 1861. He was considered an art-loving monarch who contributed significantly to the development of Berlin's Museum Island.

Unfortunately, not many equestrian monuments in Berlin have survived the passage of time, but at least this one has been preserved in a very prominent location and still looks quite impressive today.

Some buildings have not survived the turbulent course of history, and this was also the fate of Berlin Palace, which between 1950 and 1951 was demolished by the former East German government. But as the wheel of time continues to turn, the palace has been rebuilt in recent years and now serves a new function as the Humboldt Forum. It still takes a little getting used to, but at least Berlin's city center has gained a new eye-catcher.

Even though the side facing the River Spree has a rather modern feel to it, the new and old castle fits in perfectly and blends in well with the overall picture that visitors get to see here. Fortunately, the original cathedral has been preserved and stands majestically right next door. If you didn't know any better, you might think it had always looked like this.

On the other side we then head towards the TV tower and city hall, and it's worth taking a detour through the Nikolaiviertel district. Even though the history of this district is not entirely authentic, it's definitely worth taking a stroll through it.

This way, you won't miss one of the other statues, which shows St. George on horseback defeating the dragon with his spear raised. It was originally located in the courtyard of Berlin City Palace and was moved to Volkspark Friedrichshain after the palace was destroyed. Since the reconstruction of the Nikolaiviertel in the 1980s, it has found its current home there – directly on the banks of the Spree, with a view of St. Nicholas' Church.

We are approaching the end of our short tour through Berlin's historic center and are now in front of the "Rotes Rathaus" the City Hall. This is much more than just the seat of the Governing Mayor—it is an architectural and historical landmark that reflects the development of the city over centuries.

The city hall was built between 1861 and 1869 and has been the seat of the city council since 1870. It was severely damaged during World War II, but fortunately not completely destroyed. After the war, the East Berlin magistrate met here, and since 1991 it has once again been the joint seat of the Berlin Senate and the Governing Mayor.

Right next to it stands the Berlin TV Tower, built between 1965 and 1969, which at 368 meters is the tallest structure in Germany. I was at the top a long, long time ago, but I'm sure that its viewing platforms offer a magnificent view over the rooftops of the city.

And of course there is a lot more to see in Berlin, but we'll save that for another time. Because even though I now prefer other cities, I'm sure I'll visit the German capital again and take a look around. As I discover anew every time, Berlin is changing rapidly, although fortunately some things seem to remain in place forever.

But what means forever?

[//]:# (!worldmappin 52.51830 lat 13.37542 long A few pictures from Berlin – A short tour through the historic center of the German capital d3scr)