berlin

Opernpalais
The charming building
next to the Staatsoper,
built in 1733–7,
served as a palace for
the princesses.
Russische
Botschaft
The gigantic Russian
Embassy, built in Stalinist
“wedding-cake style”,
was the first building to
be constructed in Unter
den Linden after World
War II (see also p118).
For more on Unter den Linden see pp112–21
Humboldt-Universität
Berlin’s oldest and most highly regarded
university was founded in 1890, on the
initiative of Wilhelm von Humboldt. Twentynine
Nobel Prize winners were educated
here, including Albert Einstein.
Neue Wache
The central German memorial for all
victims of war was created in the years
1816–8 and designed by Karl Friedrich
Schinkel. An enlarged reproduction of the
moving Pietà sculpture by Käthe Kollwitz
stands in the centre of the room.
Kronprinzenpalais
The Neo-Classical
Palais, built in 1732–3 by
Philipp Gerlach, was originally
a residence for the
heirs to the Hohenzollern
throne. After World War I
it became an art museum,
and after 1948 the
East German government
housed state visitors
there. Until 2003 it was
used for exhibitions of the
Deutsches Historisches
Museum opposite.
Frederick
the Great’s Statue
One of Christian Daniel
Rauch’s grandest sculptures,
this statue shows
the “Old Fritz” (13.5 m/
45 ft high) on horseback,
wearing a uniform and tricorn
hat (see also p113).
Bebelplatz
Originally named
Opernplatz, this wide,
open space was designed
by Georg W von Knobelsdorff
as the focal point of
his Forum Fridericianum.
The elegant square was
meant to introduce some
of the splendour and
glory of ancient Rome to
the Prussian capital. In
May 1933, it became the
scene of the infamous
Nazi book burning.
Berlin’s Top 10
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