traveldk.com

The façade of the Old Museum, possibly one of the most attractive Neo-Classical museums in Europe, is remarkable for the shiny red marble used in its construction, which is visible behind 18 Ionic columns. Built in 1830 according to plans by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, it was at the time one of the first buildings to be created specifically as a museum. Originally it was to house the royal collection of paintings and antique art treasures; today it is home to a collection of antiquities. In front of the museum, on Museumsinsel, are the gardens designed by Peter Joseph Lenné. Conceived as the king’s herb garden, it is today decorated with a granite bowl by Gottlieb Christian Cantian, weighing 70 tons (see Central Berlin: Unter den Linden) .

Berlin Cathedral, the largest and most lavish church in town, was reopened in 1993, after almost 40 years of restoration. Designed by Julius Raschdorf in 1894–1905, the building reflects the empire’s aspirations to power. In particular, the imperial stairs, made from black marble, are a manifestation of the proximity of the Hohenzollern town residence opposite the cathedral. Members of this ruling dynasty are buried in the crypt. The main nave, topped by a 85-m (279-ft) high dome is remarkable. The church is dominated by a magnificent 20th-century Neo-Baroque pulpit and the giant Sauer organ.

Berlin’s Town Hall, also known as “Red Town Hall” because of the red bricks from Brandenburg Province with which it is built, harks back to the proud days when Berlin became the capital of the new Empire. Built in 1861–9 according to designs by Hermann Friedrich Waesemann, the town hall was one of Germany’s largest and most magnificent buildings, built to promote the splendour of Berlin. The structure was modelled on Italian Renaissance palaces, and the tower is reminiscent of Laon cathedral in France. The exterior was decorated with Die steinerne Chronik (the stone chronicle) in 1879, depicting scenes from the city’s history (see Central Berlin: Around Alexanderplatz) .

More than a mere symbol, the Brandenburg Gate is synonymous with Berlin (see Brandenburger Tor & Pariser Platz) .

Berliners are not too fond of the Chancellor’s new offices, although this is the only new government building to have been designed by a Berlin architect. Axel Schultes developed a vast, elongated office complex, which extends north of the Reichstag, in a bend of the Spree, even stretching across the river. In the centre of the hyper-modern building stands a gleaming white cube with round windows, which Berliners quickly nicknamed “washing machine”. Critics describe the design as pompous, while civil servants dislike their small offices. The interior of the building is decorated with valuable modern paintings. The Chancellor’s office on the 7th floor has a view of the Reichstag.

The only Russian-Orthodox church in Berlin, the Church of Christ’s Ascension is known for its green onion domes. Services are still held in Russian, following Orthodox rituals.

This elegant building by Frank Owen Gehry combines Prussian and modern architecture. The giant dome inside is particularly remarkable (see Reichstag) .

At 66 m (216 ft) high, this Baroque tower, which dates back to 1701–5, is a magnificent ornamental structure for the church serving Berlin’s Huguenot community.