DK Travel : Berlin : Places of interest

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Wasserturm

The unofficial symbol of the district is the giant, 30-m (98-ft) high Water Tower in Knaackstraße, built in 1877 as a water reservoir, but shut down in 1914. The engine house in the tower was used as an unofficial prison by the SA in 1933–45 – a period recalled by a commemorative plaque. The tower stands on Windmühlenberg (windmill hill), where some of the windmills that had made Prenzlauer Berg famous in the 19th century once stood. Today the round brick building has been converted into trendy apartments.
Wilhelmstraße

In imperial Berlin, the centre of the German Empire’s governmental power was based in Wilhelmstraße. Around 100 years later, nothing remains of the prestigious historic buildings which represented the equivalent of No. 10 Downing Street in London or Quai d’Orsay in Paris. All political decisions were made at Wilhelmstraße: both Chancellor (No. 77) and President (No. 73) of the German Reich lived here in old town houses. Their gardens became known as “ministerial gardens”. Adolf Hitler had the street systematically developed into the nerve centre of Nazi power. The Neue Reichskanzlei (the Chancellor’s office) was built in 1937–9 to plans by Albert Speer, at the corner of Vossstraße and Wilhelmstraße. It was blown up in 1945. Behind the Reichskanzlei was the so-called “Führerbunker” where Adolf Hitler committed suicide on 30 April 1945 (today it is a playground). Of the historic buildings, only the former Reichsluftfahrtministerium (Ministry of Aviation) remains. Today, Wilhelmstraße is lined by modern office buildings; and the British Embassy, built in 2000 by Michael Wilford, creates a link with the international importance of this street.
ZEISS-Großraumplanetarium

Artificial stars, planets and nebulae take you to far-away galaxies under the silvery dome of the Planetarium (see Best of the Rest) .
Zionskirche

Zionskirche, dating from 1866–73, and the square of the same name form a tranquil oasis in the middle of the lively district. The Protestant church has always been a political centre, too. During the Third Reich, resistance groups against the Nazi regime congregated here and, during the East German period, the alternative “environment library” (an information and documentation centre) was established here. Church and other opposition groups who were active here played a decisive role in the political transformation of East Germany in 1989–90, which eventually led to reunification.
Zitadelle Spandau

The only surviving fortress in Berlin, the citadel, at the confluence of the Havel and Spree Rivers, is strategically well placed. The star-shaped moated fortress, built in 1560 by Francesco Chiaramella da Gandino, was modelled on similar buildings in Italy. Its four powerful corner bastions, named Brandenburg, König (king), Königin (queen) and Kronprinz (crown prince) are especially remarkable. A fortress stood on the same site as early as the 12th century, of which the Juliusturm survives – a keep that served as a prison in the 19th century. At the time, Berliners used to say, “off to the Julio”, when they sent criminals to prison. Later the imperial war treasures were kept here – the reparations paid by France to the German Empire after its defeat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1. The Bastion Königin houses a museum of municipal history.
Zoologischer Garten

If you are visiting Berlin with children you should not miss out on the Zoo. Particular favourites are the Monkey House (with baby gorillas and chimpanzees) and the Baby Zoo, where children are allowed to touch and feed the young of various animal species (see Zoologischer Garten) .
Zoologischer Garten

Germany’s largest and oldest zoological garden is a must for all families on a visit to Berlin (see Zoologischer Garten) .