GERMANY

Yesterday capital of Prussia and cultural centre of the Golden Twenties, today the gateway to eastern Europe - Berlin is once again making a new beginning. One can sense the fresh vibrancy everywhere, on the boulevards, in the art and flea markets, in the 300 trendy night-spots and the 7,000 pubs and restaurants. Visitors can enjoy three opera houses, two great concert halls and 35 theatres, plus cabarets, musicals and revues. Art-lovers are also spoilt for choice at no fewer than 170 excellent museums.

Geographical position

Berlin lies on the north-south axis between Copenhagen and Vienna in the centre of Europe. Paris, Madrid, Rome, Brussels, Prague and Moscow are all within easy reach of the city which is the gateway between East and West. With about 3,400,000 inhabitants, Berlin is the largest City in Germany. It is 38 kilometres long and 45 kilometres wide and covers an area of 889 square kilometres.

Highlights

Berlin Cathedral: Built between 1893 and 1905, this Neo-Baroque structure was the main church of Prussian Protestantism.

Berlin Town Hall: Seat of the governing mayor of Berlin. Built 1861-69, also known as the "Red Town Hall".

Brandenburg Gate: Symbol of Berlin, built 1788-91, designed by C.G. Langhans, Victoria with Quadriga added in 1794.

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church: Built in the late 19C, destroyed 1943. A modern church was built next to the ruin in 1959-61.

St. Nikolai Church: Oldest church building in Berlin, now houses a permanent exhibition on the history of the city.

Schloss Charlottenburg: Built as a summer palace for Sophie-Charlotte, wife of the later King Friedrich I. Completed in its present form in 1790.

Victory Column: Built 1866-73, designed by J.H. Strack. Approx. 69m, topped with a gilded statue of Victoria.

Berlin Redevelopment: Information station on Leipziger Platz. The Potsdamer Platz project investors -Mercedes-Benz, Sony, the Berlin City Planning Office and German Rail - have installed a huge multimedia container packed with computers, screens and models. A click with the "space mouse" displays the latest information on the progress of the new city quarter. Worth a visit! Old Congress Centre (Kongresshalle): Known locally as the "pregnant oyster", this building was the U.S. contribution to the International Construction Exhibition in 1957. Now the home of the House of the Cultures of the World.

New Guardhouse (Neue Wache): Built 1816-18, designed by Schinkel in the form of a Roman fort. Since 1969 memorial to the victims of fascism and dictatorship. Potsdamer Platz: Berlin's new centre, square with over 120 shops, 20 cinemas (including one IMAX), a large musical theatre and much more.

Museum Island: Unique ensemble of museums, many collections initiated by Wilhelm von Bode (1845-1929): Pergamon Museum, Bode Museum, Altes Museum, Alte Natio-nalgalerie, Neues Museum.

Kulturforum Art Gallery: Opened in 1998, this magnificent new gallery unites formerly dispersed collections with around 2,700 paintings spanning the 13C-18C.

Hamburger Bahnhof: Old terminal railway station, completely renovated and expanded 1990-95 by Kleinhues, now houses an important collection of contemporary art with 10,000m of exhibition space.