4. Introduction The extensive public transport network you the low down of the cityâs icons,
makes getting around both simple museums, and historical must-sees.
and for the most part stress free. With Weâve shopped till we dropped so you
The official capital of cool (or should From late night to the wee hours, youâre so much to see and do, accidentally wouldnât burn a hole through your
that be unofficial?), Berlin is where sure to find parties you wonât remember getting off at the wrong U-Bahn stop is wallet. Weâve gone ahead and had pre-
global hipsters and history addicts rub but will never forget. even a blessing in disguise as you might drinks at all the hip bars so you would
shoulders. Whatever your taste, interests stumble across the cityâs hidden gems. know how to party like a Berliner. And
or financial budget, this quirky, vibrant Berlin is a powerful magnet for fashion, weâve even ventured beyond the city
and effervescent city blends the old and art and music and it is not hard to see It is hardly a surprise then, when speak- limits to sunbathe in the beautiful lakes
the new, luring you in and never letting why. This is a city almost overflowing ing about the constantly changing and forests â mostly for ourselves, but
go. with creativity. From guerilla fashion nature of Germanyâs capital, former you will benefit from our reports, too!
shows hosted in the U-Bahn stations to French culture minister Jack Lang once Either way, this is how we see Berlin, in
Each of the cityâs distinct neighbour- the pop-up nightclubs in the famous said: âParis is always Paris and Berlin is the eyes of a young and curious student,
hoods has its own charm and character. Pergamon Museum or East Side Gallery, never Berlin!â so we can only hope you too will see the
Mitte is the tourist hot-spot with visitors Berlin is the ultimate manifestation of absolute brilliance of Berlin!
flocking to Museum Island, the Branden- culture. In our comprehensive guide of Berlin
burg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie, â Bears, Beers and Bikes â weâve given City Travel Review Team, July 2011
the mecca for every Cold War thriller Loathe to forgetting its past but keen on
aficionado. And if you have a penchant looking towards the future, Berlin strikes
for the finer things in life, visit Charlot- a balance between self-reflection and
tenburg Palace, Berlinâs majestic Prus- optimism for a brighter tomorrow. This
sian palace just within city limits. The is a place where the skyline changes
young and the restless congregate in more often than the unpredictable
Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain and weather. Today, the city has evolved
Prenzlauer Berg, where effortlessly hip into a lightning-paced metropolis where
bars and clubs seem to be open 24 you wonât ever get bored or run out of
hours a day. things to see, do and drink.
5âBears, Beers and Bikes A Young Persons Guide to Berlinâ6
CTR July Master Final.indd 5-6 7/29/11 10:27 PM
5. Berlin: A Brief History These were controlled by the USSR, The low quality of life drove many East
Britain, the USA and France. Tensions Berliners to seek refuge in the West.
quickly emerged between the Western
Founded in the 13th century, Berlin is The 20th century saw the outbreak of Allies and the Soviets regarding the To halt the exodus, the East erected the
rich in history. Not without its problems, the First World War, and Germanyâs management of the German economy. infamous Berlin Wall.
this city has experienced many historical defeat meant the city found it increas- These disagreements came to a head in A period of left-wing rebellion and
movements that have not only formed ingly difficult to feed its people, leading June 1948, when the Allies introduced a protest erupted in 1968, led mainly by
Berlin but the rest of the world. to massive strikes. Kaiser Wilhelm II was new currency â the Deutschmark. university students and the Rote Armee
eventually ousted, leading to the found- Viewing this as a breach of the Pots- Faktion (Red Army Faction). Although
Berlin grew from the nearby cities ing of the Weimar Republic in 1918. This dam Agreement, which stipulated that things had settled down by 1970, some
of Berlin and Cölln, which expanded period promised to bring new freedoms Germany be treated as one economic lasting changes were achieved: universi-
rapidly throughout the Middle Ages. In and liberties, but was plagued by politi- zone, the Soviets responded by adopt- ties were modernised, the student body
1709 King Friedrich I declared the unifi- cal and economic instability. ing the Ostmark. Separation between was politicised and the Green Party was
cation of the five towns of Berlin, Cölln, the two states became official in 1949. founded.
Friedrichswerder, Dorotheenstadt, and Unfortunately, this era of uncertainty The Western Zones formed the Federal
Friedrichstadt to form the capital and paved the way for Hitler and the Nazi Republic of Germany (FRG) with Bonn as By the 1980s, change was in the air, but
royal residence of Berlin. Party. The German people had had its capital, and the East became the Ger- what came next surprised the world.
enough of poverty and squalor and man Democratic Republic (GDR), whose The Wende (the fall of communism)
From 1740, Berlin developed into a cen- craved stability. Hitler rose through the capital was East Berlin. was gradual, eventually climaxing in the
tre of the Enlightenment, establishing it- ranks of politics at an incredible pace. collapse of the Berlin Wall on 9th No-
self at the forefront of European culture, Appointed Chancellor in 1933, he fused The West flourished under the leader- vember 1989. Berlin became a separate
a reputation it still enjoys today. Under the offices of President and Chancellor, ship of Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, city-state; however, economic reform
the rule of Friedrich the Great, some of gaining absolute power and becoming with the progressive economic policies took place in the mid-1990s which led
Berlinâs most well-known monuments FĂŒhrer of the Third Reich. Home to the of Ludwig Erhard paving the way for the to the signing of the Unification Treaty.
were constructed. These include St Hed- Headquarters of the Nazi Party, Berlin Wirtschaftswunder (economic miracle) In 1991, it was decided that Berlin would
wigâs Cathedral, Prinz-Heinrich-Palais was the focal point of Allied attacks on of the 1950s and 60s. Meanwhile, the once again become the capital and
(now Humboldt University) and The Germany, which resulted in much of the East was crippled by oppressive Com- home to the German government.
Opera Palace. In 1861, the city expanded city being destroyed. The wide-spread munist rule. The economy was stagnant
further with the incorporation of the reconstruction shaped the landscape of and the people lived under constant A stroll in Berlin feels like a walk through
suburbs Wedding, Gesundbrunnen, the city we recognise today. surveillance by the Ministry for State Se- history. Its tumultuous past and varied
Moabit, Chalottenburg, Schöneberg and curity (Staatsicherheitspolizei or Stasi). cultural tapestry has made Berlin the
Rixdorf. In 1871 Berlin was named as After the War, Berlin, along with the rest buzzing capital you are visiting today.
capital of the German Reich, becoming of Germany, was divided into four
the empireâs political, economic, and occupation zones. (S.Gleeson and J.Rendall)
scientific hub.
A Young Persons Guide to Berlinâ8
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