As a lover of history, especially when you are planning for a holiday at Berlin, you might be asking yourself whether you can get a view of the Berlin Wall. The physical barrier within the Berlin is the Wall that signified Cold War has a great historical importance. Although most of it was destroyed after the revolution in 1989 you can find places at the former Berlin Wall where you can touch and get informed about it.
1. East Side Gallery
The East Side Gallery is one of the finest tourist attractions for everyone who would like to see the Berlin Wall. Sited on the edge of the River Spree, this is the longest stretch of the remaining wall standing at 1300 metres and also runs as an art gallery. Yesterday, today artists from all over the world have turned this part turns section into a large canvas with paint the picture, which creates them with the message of peace, freedom and unity. The opportunity to stroll and get to the wall-painted murals is a marvelous feeling, getting used to observing the historic and artistic part of the city.
Tips for visiting the East Side Gallery:
It is recommended to visit during early morning or early in the week, because of the number of visitors.
Make sure you read each artwork and the meaning it holds in its proper time and space.
To get more detailed information about the history of the wall you may take a guided tour.
2. Berlin Wall Memorial
One of the places that can teach the world about the Barr actually exists was the Berlin Wall Memorial which was a structure erected to represent the wall and detail its effects on the city of Berlin. This memorial is in Mitte and stretches from Bernauer Strasse which used to be a part of the wall. Here you can get acquainted with different exhibits, outdoor installations and documents regarding life during the time of the division of the city. The memorial also has a deck to observe a part of the wall that has been well preserved from the original ones.
Tips for visiting the Berlin Wall Memorial:
Your tour begins at the Documentation Center and you will hear about the background to the Wall.
Stroll past areas of the wall that have been restored for you to see at close range and then peruse through the historical exhibits.
Take a tour of the Chapel of Reconciliation an emblem of hope in the East of Germany.
3. Checkpoint Charlie
Checkpoint Charlie was one of the famous gates between two sectors of Berlin where America met the Soviet Union. You could still stop here and gaze at the spot with one checkpoint recreated as a reminder of the strict security that prevailed here once. Some of the youth engaged in photography with fake American soldiers who were dressed up to scare the youth since the place has now become one of the tourist attractions in Miami. Although this structure is more of a representation, it may also be fascinating to pay a visit and study historic references connected with this checkpoint.
Tips for visiting Checkpoint Charlie:
Paid visit to the nearby Checkpoint Charlie Museum if you want to get more information in regards to the wall.
Hire a guided tour so that you will be guided by a local expert who will explain all the attractions.
It is also important to remember that this area can be rather touristy thus, it is better to prepare for a rather big amount of other people.
4. Summary of Other Wall Remains and Observations
When walking around Berlin you may come across such other brands of the wall as the East Side Gallery, Berlin Wall Memorial, and Checkpoint Charlie. Some of them remain preserved as monuments or megaron included in some modern’s constructions. For instance, Potsdamer Platz where human could observe segments of the wall somehow included in the Sony Center. Such coincidental moments are a good means of arguing the audiences of the city and its histories of reunification.
Tips for exploring other wall remains:
Wall infosigns or information plaques usually exist where fragments of walls are located.
The fragments of the Wall can still be seen in areas such as Bernauer Strasse or even Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg districts.
Therefore, although most of the original structure was taken down, there are many places where the story of the Berlin Wall can be observed. Different parts of the Wall story are told differently; the East Side Gallery, Berlin Wall Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie. All these will be quite insightful and provide not only a tangible historic experience of Berlin but also enable you to admire the city’s dedication towards remembering the past.
Table of Contents