This section focuses on the city and region so you can get to know it a bit faster, with some history to add a bit of depth. The issue of the wall and unification is mentioned a lot in connection with the city, in case this piece of history past you by, read the fall of the wall.
Check out a newly released website as a for a virtual view of the city:
Read what others have to say about Berlin in Wikipedia here.
A city for the 21st century
Berlin is the modern capital of Europes largest and economically important state. It is the most populated city in Germany with 4.9 million in the conurbation, of which over three million live within the city boundaries.
There was a rush to reunite the divided city and upgrade the delapidated infrastructure of the failed Eastern German state to the standards West Germany was enjoying. Thanks to billions of Marks and Euros spent on reconstruction, it now has one of the worlds most modern infrastructures.
The results of investment are evident in the public transport system. The new and gleaming central train station just north of the government quarter cost 1 billion euros. The divided U-bahn and S-bahn systems have been upgraded and extended. The national rail infrastructure is fully linked to the high speed rail system. Though much of the work is now complete there are ongoing large scale projects such as the U5 extension under the heart of the historic city and the new Berlin Brandenburg International airport. Much of the investment that is less obvious but as crutial to the cities future is the upgrading of the telecomuncations systems and undergound services.
The political decision to return to its historical location as opposed to remaining in Bonn has led to large scale redevelopment in central areas to accomodate government departments and its related services.
New employment has primarilly been created in future orientated sectors such as the creative industries, media and research. Tourism is also increasing in importance, Berlin is now the third most visited city in Europe after London and Paris.
Despite the scale of development and influx and exodus of its poulation, the city has retained much of the character for which it is famed, often quoted as being a bohemian bourgeoisie.
Ask residents where the centre of the city is and you may get different answers, probably based on where they live and where they chose to go. The geographical centre of Berlin is the Brandenburg Gate which is used as a central reference point for distances. The most central distict would officially be defined as Mitte which literally translates to centre or middle, and has prime government departments and a major media and commercial presence. Major centres are featured below. They all share the fact that they are all well connected to the cities transport network and all have the potential to retain and develop their central functions.
click on image to enlarge
Green shows the cities main park, Tiergarten
Yellow shows the main tourist and commercial areas
Alexanderplatz (Mitte) The former centre of the east and a testament to over dimensional, pre-fabricated architecture. It is slowly being revamped and animated by an increasing number of cinema, entertainment and shopping based developments. The Alexanderplatz is a major transport node and is, despite not being the prettiest of places, worth a visit. There are grand plans a foot to transform this centre with towering buildings.
Nearest transport: Alexanderplatz (U2, U5), (S5, S7,S9)
Friedrichstraße (Mitte) A long street that runs through an important commercial district and cuts across Unter den Linden. It offers a some what strange mix of up-market and middle standing shops and top of the range car show rooms. The southern section is the centre for many publishing houses. It is one of the most accessible areas of the city.
Nearest transport: Friedrichstasse (U6) (S1, S2, S25, S3, S5, S9); southern section, Stadtmitte (U2,U6)
Potsdamer Platz (Mitte) A new gleaming commercial and entertainment centre, rebuilt from scratch over a ten year period. It has attracted the head quarters of many international firms, the most prominent being Sony which has built its own section. It is a surreal sanitised city with stick-on cladding, the whole area is serviced from underground. It is popular with visitors with many attractions and certainly worth a visit.
Nearest transport: Potsdamer Platz (U2) (S1, S2)(Regional and national trains)
Zoologischer Garten (now being branded as City West) is the main shopping district and a major entertainment and visitor centre. A main attraction is the impressive Kurfürstendamm, a 53 metre wide boulevard dating form an 1873 declaration.
Nearest transport: Zoologoscher Garten (U2, U9) (S5, S7, S9)
Business: office space is scattered across the city, whilst prime office space is concentrated in Mitte, in particular around the northern section of Friedrichstraße and the streets flanking the central section of the Kurfürstendamm. Major conference and trade fairs are held at the International Conference Centre (ICC), in Charlottenburg.
Students: the city has the largest student population in Germany, attracted by the renowned universities and the quality of life in the city not to mention the night life. The main Technical University campus is at Ernst Reuter Platz. The Free University, Germanys largest university is located in Zehlendorf. Many more institutions are widely spread across the city as are students. Typical district for students are Friedrichshain, Kreuzberg and Prenzlauerberg.
Tourists: Berlin has become Europe’s third most visited city as visitor numbers have risen in double percent points over the last few years. Major tourist districts include Charlottenburg, Mitte and Tiergarten. Potsdam a UNESCO listed town south west of the conurbation is a major visitor destination in its own right.
Retail: Most retail facilities are still within central areas as out of town shopping centres have had limited impact. Main retail districts include the City West, Schloßstraße in Steglitz and Friedrichraße in Mitte. Alexanderplatz is expected to increase in importance. Many areas still have large numbers of smaller independent shops notably in `Kiez`areas, discussed later.
Nightlife: The city has a major evening economy, with very relaxed liscensing laws that allow bars to open 24 hours a day if they so choose. Concentrations of tourist bars are on and around Hackescher Markt in Mitte, and the Kurfürstendamm in Charlottenburg. The districts renowned for nightlife and alternative scenes are Mitte, Prenzlauerberg, Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg. The centre for gay nightlife is split between Schöneberg and Prenzlauerberg.
Relaxation: Despite the cities density, there is ample space dedicated for relaxation. Most districts have at least one major park, an open air pool and an open air cinema. Beach bars at various locations along the river have been the hit of the past few summers. The nearby lakes and forests offer popular retreats.
Most German cities did not loose the population living in central areas to the same extent as other western nations. The infrastructure that supported residents needs and the physical environment were promoted and improved.
Areas that would be regarded as a `central living district` are loosely defined as being those within the zone A of the public transport tariffs as well as major transport corridors in zone B. This encompasses a large area which follow denser development level guide lines usually five stories high, enforced by the city authorities. Some areas that are particularly near central functions are usually impressive for representational reasons but may not be as popular with most residents due to the lack of facilities needed in daily life. The attributes of individual neighbourhoods are covered in detail in the Bespoke search section.
Berlin is surrounded by the region of Brandenburg. This region has under performed economically despite large scale investment in restructuring. Many of the towns and villages have restored centres and new road, rail and service infrastructure. Beyond a commuting distance of approximately 1 hour, property prices drop significantly. The average resident seems unwilling to commute longer than this and there is surprisingly little demand for second homes away from the city.
There is potential for those seeking space, either in a town, village or without a neighbour and should you choose within an hours driving distance from what will become one of Europe’s largest airports. There is enormous potential in the generously sized property, however this potential is not being explored as the economic indicators for the region remain pessimistic. Many properties would require investment to upgrade them. Larger properties often have a lower purchase price as the investment needed would be related to its size. Prospects are better south of the city the new international airport is being developed.
Berlin Brandenburg International airport is due to be opened in 2011 and will be the largest single investment in the eastern region since reunification. There is scepticism amongst residents due to noise and pollution depressing the value of their properties even further. This seems unfounded as every other international airport in the world becomes a generator of economic activity. Politicians and business have long supported the project, which was seriously delayed during its inception but is now on site.
The regional centre of Potsdam is south west of Berlin. This region is economically more active thus property prices higher. It is a beautiful area, also with large lakes and forests. The main attraction is Potsdam which attracts millions of visitors a year and is a major employer with many educational and research institutes.
It is impossible to separate Berlin from its eventful history though it is hard to imagine the magnitude of change. Alone in the twentieth century it was at the heart of the Prussian Empire, the Weimar Republic, Nazi Germany, on the frontline of the rise and fall of the cold war. Then a city redefining itself as the capital of a reunified country in an expanding European Union.
The Romans had no interest in the area and left no traces. It was not until the 12 and 13th century that early trading posts began to establish including one on what is now Museum Island. These trading posts steadily developed until the twin settlements of Berlin and Cölln were recognised as important trading posts between east and west and joined the Hanseatic League in 1369.
The highs and lows of the Prussians fortunes shaped much of the cities form, as the region became a royal residence, a garrison as well as a trading post. Friedrichstasse was built to march troops between parading grounds at Temlehof and what is now Pariser Platz. The rise in economic fortunes as the empire expanded enabled representative streets to be built. Srasse des 17. Juni linked what was Friedrich Stadt (centred on what is now Friedrichstrasse) with the royal settlement and palace in Charlottenberg. Many of the buildings lining Unter den Linden date from the rule of Fredrick the Great, as the cities cultural life flourished under his rule.
The Prussians experienced a period of decline as the city was invaded and occupied by Napoleon. The empire emerged stronger than ever, with land stretching to the Rhine and its mineral deposits which helped fuel the industrial revolution that was about to take place. Berlin became a centre for engineering and glass making. The railways and underground systems cut through the city as its infrastructure was modernised and the tenements which dominant central districts were built in a building boom frenzy from 1875 to 1915.
WWI saw the demise of the Prussians and the creation of the short lived Weimar republic with its constitution and a united Germany. Berlins arts and nightlife scene became legendary as the city recovered economically. There was some improvement to public life as large scale housing projects and health systems developed. The Kurfürstendamm became fashionable as the new entertainment centre whilst Friedrichstrasse was left for the stuffy politicians. The party was soon cut short with the rise of Nazism. WWII ensued leaving a collapsed country and a city where 92% of the structure was damaged.
It is the war and the ensuing period that defines todays city. The various centres and their importance changed dramatically during the cities division. The main commercial centre of Potsdamer Platz was left in ruins in no-mans land. The historical and cultural centre around Unter den Linden and Friedrichstrasse were located in the east and out of limits to the west. The eastern part of the city redeveloped its commercial centre around Alexanderplatz. The western section redeveloped an area near the Zoologischer Garten train station to become its commercial and entertainment core and an area near Potsdammer Platz to become a major cultural centre.
The political developments in the former east became obvious in November 1989 as the communist led leaders of the GDR (the German Democratic Republic) allowed the free movement of its citizens. Restrictions had been placed to stop the mass emigration which occurred between 1949 and 1961 when one fifth of its population fled to the less oppressive west and its higher living standards. The Berlin wall was part of a boundary that had enclosed the democratic and capitalist run section of the city, which was effectively an island geographically surrounded by a communist led system. The lifting of restrictions on movement is symbolised by the opening of the Berlin Wall.
With the relaxation of border restrictions it was clear that the GDR would have to change if it was to avoid another mass exodus. The dramatic change came in 1990 with the political reunion of West Germany (the Federal Republic of Germany) and East Germany (the German Democratic Republic).
It is the change of the political mind set of the east that returned Berlin to its former status as a capital city and led to the boom and bust years of the 1990s. Fortunately, the twenty first century has been less turbulent, but it is hard to imagine Berlin not having a major role in its future.
))