The Berlin Wall – Top Places to Get an Insight of the Place
Besides its alternative scene, many visitors to Berlin want to know the best place to see the Berlin Wall or, more specifically, where to see what still remains of it. For around 28 years a concrete wall over 100 km long divided Berlin, and the entire country. However now, it’s one of the main go-to sights in Germany.
The division of Germany, the detention of an entire people, the center of the Cold War: there was barely any other construction in the 20th century that was such a symbol of brutality and barbarism as the Berlin Wall. A term century after the peaceful revolution that led to its fall, there’s hardly anything left of the Wall. The scanty original pieces of the wall that remain standing are popular attractions.
The History of the Berlin Wall
For the last 28 years the wall of Berlin is a shocking symbol of the division of Berlin, Germany and the Cold War, which finally came down on 9th November 1989.
Stopping over Berlin today, it’s hard to think that this thriving, fun and booming European hotspot was once segregated into East and West (alongside West Berlin’s encirclement by its own Wall), a physical division that began in 1961.
Old St Hedwig Cemetery
An approximately 15 meter section of the final version of the Berlin Wall can be seen along the northern edge of the St Hedwig Cemetery, Berlin’s oldest Catholic cemetery. This stretch of the Wall is under historic preservation and runs along the so-called “Liesen Bridges” that crossed what was once the border between West and East Berlin.
Bösebrücke
The Bornholmer Straße border crossing at the eastern end of this bridge, was first to open when the borders were opened on the night of 9th November 1989. More than 100 Japanese cherry trees line the Mauerweg (Wall trail) here. As the process of German unification was widely followed in Japan, the trees were a gift and a sign of sympathy in 1990.
Checkpoint Charlie
Three border crossings in Berlin are controlled by the Americans. The most famous by far is Checkpoint Charlie, named after the third letter of the international spelling alphabet. One last bit of the hinterland Wall is located not far from the museum at the corner Schutzenstrabe and Friedrichstrabe.
East Side Gallery
The longest extant section of the wall runs for 1.3 kilometers along the river Spree. Around 1990, after the Wall had ceased to be functional, the eastern side of the wall was painted by 118 artists from 21 countries, resulting in the longest open air gallery in the world.
Berlin Wall Memorial
This Berlin Wall ran along the entire southern edge of Bernauer Straße during the years of Berlin’s division. Part of this former border strip together with the watchtower is now home to an open air exhibition offering historical audio and video material as well as a visitor center with videos and a viewing tower.
Gutspark Groß Glienicke
The Grob-Glienicke sea is a popular swimming lake due to its crystal-clear water. During the years the city was a parted, this pleasure was exclusively available to West Berliners: the border between East and West ran right through the middle of the lake and was marked by buoys. The Wall’s fortifications were erected on the lake shore.
Invalid Cemetery
The East German government devoted more and more space over the years to its border installations and the Invalididenfriedhof, established in 1748, fell victim to this hunger for land. More than 90 per cent of the graves were removed to make room for the death strip with its watchtowers, control strips, runs for the watchdogs and patrol roads.
Mauerpark
This remnant of the hinterland Wall found in this park established in what was once no-man’s land has become a favorite canvas for graffiti artists.
Schelesischer Busch
Club of Visionaries between Treptow and Kreuzberg
The East German border installations once rain in parallel to the Flutgraben channel. This former border strip between Treptow and Kreuzberg has become a green zone along the length of the Flutgraben. A few metres of the hinterland wall painted after the fall of the Wall have been preserved.
Potsdamer Platz
The last original segments of the wall at Potsdamer Platz and Stresemannstraße were torn down in 2008. Six sections were later erected in front of the entrance to the Potsdamer Platz station. Just around the corner is one of the last Watchtowers left standing in the city.
Contour of Terror
The border between Berlin-Mitte and Kreuzberg runs for some 200 metres along the Niederkirchnerstraße. Behind what remains of the Wall here is now home to the permanent exhibition Topography of terror on the site of the most important institutions of the Nazi persecution and terror apparatus between 1933 and 1945.
Wall monument
A hobby researcher in Reinickendorf has discovered 80 meters of forgotten wall remains, which now have been officially confirmed as remnants of the former Berlin Wall. Meanwhile the discovery is under monument protection.
If you are preparing to travel, Germany is the best place you should visit for your trip. Other than the Berlin Wall there are many other tourist attractions that you can enjoy during solo or family travelling. Instantly apply for your Germany Visa and in three easy steps get your Schengen visa. As soon as you are able to get the Schengen visa, prepare your itinerary like the hotel and flights and travel to Germany.
