Berlin - a cultural capital
Berlin was dramatically divided from the end of World War Two, for the most part by the infamous Berlin Wall, up until German reunification in 1990, when it was reinstated as the capital. Now no longer split, Berlin is a wonderful location for a city break for those who enjoy urban life, culture, music, and the cosmopolitan environment. With impressive architecture and a plethora of museums, educational institutions, and interesting events, Berlin rightly deserves the title zeitgeist metropolis. Popular with artists the city has hundreds of art galleries, and hosts an international fair of contemporary art known as the Art Forum. With its diverse nightlife Berlin has also become established as a center for popular, underground and counter-culture in Europe, making it one of the most sought after areas for young people. The city has a number of world class clubs, such as arthouse Kunsthaus Tacheles and techno venue Tresor, as well as varied pubs and bars.
Berlin has a staggering 153 museums, a number of which are located on Berlin’s Museum Island, an island in the Spree River. Amongst others, here you can find the Old Museum, full of Prussian antiques, and the Pergamon Museum, which contains stunning reconstructions of historical and ancient buildings, such as the Ishtar Gate of Babylon. The museums of the island are themselves works of outstanding architectural beauty.
Other architectural sights not to be missed are the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag.
Berlin also has more than fifty theaters, three major opera houses, and seven symphony orchestras – so the choice of things to go and see on any one night is wide and varied.
If you are a culture vulture, then Berlin is the place to be.
Filed under: Nightlife, Music, Historic Sights, Germany
