In terms of major historical landmarks there are few that can be compared to the weight of Berlin wall. For nearly three decades, this concrete structure acted as a divide in a city and the nation as a whole. Currently there are citizens in the city due to the division of Berlin Wall that signs of the past conflicts are felt. In this article we’ll review some of the places which can be visited in Berlin to make you feel the atmosphere of cold war and GDR.

1. East Side Gallery

The East Side Gallery is arguably one of the most visited place by anyone keen on the Berlin Wall. Located along the last remaining parts of the Wall, this art gallery includes more than 100 murals painted by artists in different places. Every picture speaks out a story and encapsulates the essence that was associated with the breaking down of the wall. The East Side Gallery also provides conductive insight into what it was like walking through the divided city while observing many of the murals that came as a result of the separation.

2. Berlin Wall Memorial

The Berlin Wall memorial will offer some of the best details on what actually took place in the past. This photo site is situated at Bernauer Strasse and it has all the information you may need regarding the wall, the city and the people who underwent a change upon construction of the wall. The Memorial is established through a section of the wall, documentation center, and an open-air Museum. It also has a reconstructed parts of the border strip with watchtower and a Chapel of Reconciliation. For those interested in a detailed understanding of the wall the Berlin Wall Memorial is the right place to visit.

3. Checkpoint Charlie

Checkpoint Charlie was one of the most popular crossing of border between east and west Berlin during the cold war. Presently it has become a national landmark and a tourist attraction site and depicts the divide of the country. On Checkpoint Charlie, there is the Checkpoint Charlie Museum that is full of facts and information on the wall. You will hear and read about escape attempts from East Berlin, about the tools used and the everyday circumstances existing in the shadow of the dividing structure. This place is the symbol of the division and with the help of movies you can get insight of the human side of the Berlin Wall .

4. Mauerpark

Mauerpark was a part of the death strip; however, itsvisitor today is an open green area filled with people. Every Sunday the park opens a famous flea market and a widely-known event called ‘Bearpit Karaoke’ – singing on the open stage for everyone in an improvised bear pit. The park has few sections of the Berlin wall which even today are painted with graffiti and other forms of art. Mauerpark is ideal for the overall concept of the city and thus is an excellent place to see the wall with equal vibrant and energetic feel.

5. Topography of Terror

Topography of Terror is an informative and mourne exhibit situated on the very spot which was the headquarters of Nazi SS and Gestapo. Although, it is not centered around the Berlin Wall directly it provides much needed background to the occurrences that led up to the construction of the Wall. The exhibit focuses on the Nazi regimes, onma people and shadows and explores the situation with surveillance that persisted even at the time the city was divided. You can therefore appreciate a detailed history of the major events that led to the construction of Berlin Wall, and its subsequent demolition, by visiting Topography of Terror.

6. Documents Center / Berlin Wall

The location of the Berlin Wall Documentation Centre at the Checkpoint Charlie border crossing offers much information about the wall to the visitors. The exhibition is divided into sections from construction of the Wall, life on either side of it and how the Wall came to be breached. The exhibition contains many items representing the wall, photos, and people’s stories showing how the structure influenced their lives. This makes it possible to study the general background concerning the Berlin Wall division, as well as, obtain the profound idea of this facility’s role.

In Conclusion

Thus the Berlin Wall is not a simple wall, but metaphor of the division in years that split Germany and a metaphor for unity that followed the fall of the wall. The sites above mentioned can be helpful to get the experience of the history and the stories related to this particular creation. For those interested in the artistry of the murals, a history of the human drama of division, or simply the history of a structure that once existed, each sight provides a distinctive view on the phenomenon of the Berlin Wall. As you tour through this important part of history, do not forget to think about questions, as well as to think about what the experiences are telling you.