World Travel Guide: Travel destinations - |
|
Travel Guide (Home) |
As one of Europe's leading cultural cities Berlin offers many museums, historic sites and other places for a memorable visit. Many landmarks remind us of the long history of Berlin, the remains of the destruction during World War II and its history when it was divided between East and West.
Even though Berlin is a large metropolis, orientating yourself in Berlin isn't hard at all. There are three prominent landmarks: the Church of Remembrance (the Gedächtniskirche), located in the West on the Kurfürstendamm, the Brandenburger Tor in the city district of Mitte, and the Fernsehturm (TV-tower) at Alexanderplatz in the East. Round and about these three points of interest lie the inner districts of Berlin.
The 365-meter high Fernsehturm was built between 1965 and 1969 and is located in East Berlin. It reminds us of the time when Berlin was divided. Now it's a symbol of a united city. And as one of the highest buildings in Europe it offers a marvellous view of the city both during the day and night. You can visit the observation platform located at a height of 203 meters or dine at the restaurant while enjoying the view.
The Brandenburg Gate, Berlin's only remaining city gate, is the most well known town landmark and also symbolic of the division and reunion of the city. It was situated in the no-man's-land just behind the wall and reopened after the fall of the Wall on December 22, 1989. The sandstone construction, built from 1788-91 to plans by C.G. Langhans, has 12 Doric columns and is based on the propylaeum of the Acropolis in Athens.
In 1891-95, in a new-Romanesque style, the original Gedächtniskirche was built to honour the memory of Kaiser Wilhelm I and represented a symbol of the era of the German Empire. During the Second World War, the church was heavily damaged but not completely destroyed. The remaining ruins reminded the local population about the bombings of the war and were transformed into a small museum and a memorial. In 1961-63, next to the church, the high six-sided bell tower and the flat eight-sided main building were built. The old tower ruins serve today as a church museum and a remembrance hall for peace and reconciliation.
The Reichstag is a very important site in German history - its colourful past reflects the turbulence of German history since the 19th century. The Reichstag was constructed from 1884-94 by Paul Wallot, since a representative building was needed to house the parliament of the newly-founded German state. On 9 November 1918, the politician Philipp Scheidemann announced the establishment of the Republic from one of its windows.
After the war, the devastated building was rebuilt in a simplified form from 1961-1971, but it was not used for parliamentary functions. After reunification, the German Federal Government decided to use the building as a Parliament once again. From 1994-1999 the Reichstag was reconstructed and extended by the Architect Sir Norman Forster. Since 1999 the Reichstag has been home to the Bundestag (the lower Parliament).
The Berlin Wall was originally one hundred miles long and was constructed by the Communist government of the former East. All that is left today are a few sections of the wall near the Ostbahnhof and the Reichstag. These sections have been preserved to remind Berliners of the 28-year division of their city. The remnants of the Berlin Wall now serve as an outdoor gallery of art from local and city artists.
| ©2007 Kim D. All rights reserved. |
The island of Cozumel is only 12 miles (19 km) off the Mexican Yucatan Peninsula's east coast and 44 miles (71 km) south of Cancun. For years, Cozumel was a quiet sleepy island that didn't get many visitors until Jacques Cousteau did a documentary on it
after discovering the world class scuba diving at the Palancar
Reefs nearby. Since 1961, Cozumel has been known as one of the
best scuba diving destinations in the world. In fact for decades
since that time, the only tourists visiting the island have been
primarily scuba divers. Mainstream tourists went to the resort
intensive Cancun in the mainland instead. However,
Read this article in full
Many visitors to the UK choose London for their base when visiting the country. If you're planning to stay in the capital, then let's take a look at some other great locations that can easily be reached for a day trip.
The great thing about staying in London is that it truly is a city that never sleeps. With great entertainment, from musicals to plays, it's a place where you will rarely be short of things to do.
In the evenings, you'll find that England's capital city is a great place to enjoy the nightlife, with top quality restaurants, bars
Read this article in full
There's no denying it's a busy world nowadays, and most of us lead lives to match. When it's time to get away from it all, even though many people seem quite prepared to go to the more crowded spots, for my money you can't beat a bit of peace and quiet and a chance to forget about the 21st century altogether.
One of the best places to go if you're looking for this sort of thing is not difficult to get to, though you may not have considered it before. I'm talking about Bonnie Scotland, of course, where despite its size
Read this article in full
Toronto, my city of birth, is the largest city in Canada with a
population of about 3 million (5 million in the greater area) and
it keeps growing every year as it seems to be the first city of
choice for immigrants from around the world. With over 100
languages spoken here, Toronto is the most multicultural city in
the world according to the United Nations. This is actually a
good thing since Toronto can be a model for the rest of the world
in regards to showing how it is possible for different people of
many different cultures and faiths to get along peacefully.
Friends of different racial
Read this article in full
Costa Rica is a small country - just 75 mi/120 km separates the Pacific Ocean from the Caribbean Sea at the narrowest spot - Costa Rica still has some of the most diverse scenery in the world. Its coasts have both sandy beaches and marshy swamps, while its interior is dotted with volcanoes, dense with rain forests and abundant with unusual flora.
When you are planning your Costa Rica vacation, make sure to visit destinations like Monteverde Cloud Forest, Corcovado National Park, Tortuguero National Park or Manuel Antonio National Park. In addition, you will enjoy in your Costa Rica vacation, a
Read this article in full
 |
Subscribe to Travel News Feed [Disclaimer] |
|
 |
Travel News in full | |
 |
Travel Deals | |
 |
Travel Guide store |
Pack n' Go! Get Last Minute Rates
Carnival Cruises with Travelocity - Ends 12/31/12
Save up to 50% on 5-Star Hotel Rooms
Fun in the sun!
Save up to 35% in Florida - Expires 12/15/12
Your Trip, Your Way at Expedia.ca
Deal Hunter
See what you can do with an extra $50!
Deal Hunter
Deal Hunter
Save up to 50% on over 1300 hotels worldwide! (11:59PM AEST)
4* Macdonald Manchester Hotel & Spa
10% off advance purchases. Book by 2 days before stay, all travel dates available
5% Off ALL Hotel Gift Vouchers
Get 5% off your hotel voucher order from HotelVoucherShop when you insert the code af5 into the promotional code text box during the order process.
Miami, Florida Go Miami Card
Up to 55% off admissions Booking dates: Offered Year Round Travelling dates: Offered Year Round
Universal Orlando, Florida US
3-day park to park ticket and save US Dollars 5.00 Booking dates: Offered Year Round Travelling dates: Offered Year Round
We support this site using affiliate marketing as a way to earn revenue. All the ads, and many of the links mentioning other products, services, or websites are special links that earn us a commission when you use or pay for their product/service.
Please do not use our site if this concerns you.
