Praktikum Reisejournalismus in Berlin, Edinburgh, Madrid. Curso eG: book August 2011 A Snapshot Guide To Berlin

2. Contents Page
HISTORY OF BERLIN 6 - 11
SURVIVAL GUIDE 12 - 13
TRANSPORT 14 - 17
ACCOMMODATION 18 - 23
SIGHTSEEING 24 35
ART & CULTURE 36 - 53
ACTIVITIES 54 - 65
SHOPPING 66 - 79
FOOD & DRINK 80 - 101
BARS & CLUBS 102 - 127
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3. Introduction
Willkommen in Berlin! With a wealth of opportunity to
see the fantastic sights in the day and party late into the
night, no-one could get bored with this vibrant and ever-
evolving city.
Within these pages you can learn more about the history
of Berlin, from its roots and turbulent times to the
present day, while finding out what sites to see beyond
the Wall .
Let us guide you around the city’s efficient public
transport system and making your life easier finding
somewhere to stay while you’re here. Whether you’re
here for the nightlife or are looking to soak up some
German culture there is something for everyone in The
Snapshot Guide to Berlin. Find out which lakes are best
to lounge by and how best to pass the day in weird and
wonderful ways in our activities section. Let our culinary
expertise guide you to some of the excellent cafés,
eateries and bars the metropolitan city holds.
If you love fashion for less, look no further than our
shopping section, which contains a treasure trove of
vintage and independent boutiques, kitsch shops along
with some of the best flea markets in town to pick up a
bargain.
If you are looking to do Berlin on a budget, or even want
to splash out on something worthwhile, this guide has
everything you need to experience this beautiful city to
the fullest.
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4. History of Berlin
Early Days
Berlin began its life as two trading settlements on the banks of
the River Spree – Berlin and Cölln. The two towns joined forces in
1307 to gain better trading rights and later to enter the Hanseatic
League, which led them to begin functioning more as a single
entity known as Berlin-Cölln. Berlin-Cölln began to gain power
but lose freedoms. Until 1618, Berlin-Cölln grew in population to
12,000 people. However between 1618 and 1648, the Thirty Years
War led to the death of half the citizenry and the destruction of a
third of the town’s buildings.
Berlin Reborn
After the destruction of the city’s population, Elector Friedrich
Wilhelm (ruled 1640-1688) - encouraged immigration. He first
invited 50 Austrian Jewish families displaced by the Thirty Years
War and then more than 6,000 French Huguenots to settle in
Berlin-Cölln. The immigrants brought greater trade links and
prosperity to the city.
In 1701, Elector Friedrich III (1688-1713) crowned himself the
first King of Prussia, making Berlin the capital city. In 1709 Berlin
and Cölln were united by the King along with a number of their
suburbs. His son, Friedrich Wilhelm I (1713-1740), made Prussia
into a great military power by trading artistic pieces and money
for soldiers from other courts. It wasn’t until the reign of his son
however, that these soldiers were employed in battle.
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5. Berlin partook wholeheartedly Nazi Germany
in the Industrial Revolution, with
companies such as Borsig, Siemens It was against this unstable
and Schwartzkopff setting up in the background that the National
city. Socialist party rose to power. In the
federal elections of 1930 - the very
However as with most major cities beginning of the Great Depression
during the Industrial Revolution, - they emerged from near obscurity
the industrialisation and mass to be the second largest party in
immigration of people into Berlin the Reichstag.
from the surrounding countryside
led to mass poverty and squalor for By 1932, they were the largest
its people. Despite this as the city’s party. When the Reichstag was
infrastructure improved, so did the burnt down in February 1933, the
Friedrich II, also known as Under his rule a large conditions, and by the start of WWI Nazis seized their opportunity to
Friedrich the Great (1740- number of buildings designed Berlin was flourishing. blame the communists and use
1786), is famous both for his to reflect the values of the atmosphere of fear to outlaw
victory in the Seven Years War the Enlightenment were The 20th Century all other political parties. In March
against Russia and for bringing constructed, including the one of the first concentration
the Enlightenment to Berlin. Staatsoper Opera House, the The extreme hardships of the First camps in Germany was opened at
Prince Heinrich Palace - later to World War led to the overthrowing Sachsenhausen to contain political
become Humboldt University of Kaiser Wilhelm II on 9th prisoners. Over the course of its
and St. Hedwig’s Cathedral. November 1918, two days before existence, tens of thousands of
Food & of Berlin
Meanwhile, Unter den Linden the armistice. The years of the political prisoners and Russian
was broadened from a bridle Weimar Republic (1918-1933) were prisoners of war died there.
History Drink
path to become a boulevard tough for Berlin and for Germany,
complete with linden trees. with several uprisings from various
political factions – most notably for
After Friedrich the Berlin, the Spartacist (communist)
Great uprising. This ended with two
Spartacist leaders being murdered
The final years of the by the Freikorps in the Tiergarten,
18th century were fairly where a small memorial stands
uneventful for Berlin- the today. In addition to mass chaos on
Brandenburg Gate was built the streets of Berlin, hyperinflation
and the Quadriga placed caused by the governments’
atop it. However Napoleon overzealous money printing
invaded the city through the became a severe issue in the early
Brandenburg Gate on 27th 1920s, when money became worth
October 1806, leaving troops less than the paper it was printed
in Berlin right up until 1808. on.
For the rest of the 19th century
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6. Between 1933 and 1945, Templehof Airport
Germany was a totalitarian kept West Berlin
state. Oppression of non- going for almost
Germans, the disabled, a year until the
homosexuals, gypsies and blockade was lifted.
political dissidents led to the Tensions increased
murder of millions of people, again when 200,000
as Berlin’s vast number of East Germans
memorials to those murdered escaped the GDR’s
by the Nazis evidences. forced collectivisation
programme by
The Second World War walking into West
eventually put an end to the Berlin in 1960. In
Nazi regime after six long years response to this
of fighting. The effect of the massive loss of
war on Berlin was devastating workers, on August
- bombardment of the city by 13th, 1961, the East
air began in 1943 and by the German government
end of the war nearly half of began to build the
central Berlin’s buildings were Berlin Wall. This
destroyed. massive structure
encircled West Berlin,
Berlin Divided cutting it off from East
Food & of Berlin
Germany on all sides,
Berlin was officially divided and stood until 1989.
History Drink
into Soviet, US and British 5,000 East Berliners
sections in July 1945 - a French still managed to
section was later added. East- escape over or under
West relations deteriorated the Wall, despite
rapidly after the war, and great risk to their
Berlin became a constant lives: 192 people saying that he would not support or firing on the crowd the confused
source of tension. This tension were killed trying to cross, and hard-line actions against East guards allowed them through.
really took shape in the Berlin around 200 were seriously Germans. In a confusing series of Much of the Wall was demolished
Blockade of 1948-49, when injured. events, on 9th November 1989, soon afterwards.
the GDR refused to allow any Günther Schabowski, a member
traffic from West Germany In 1989, the East Germans of the East German government, Since the fall of the Wall, Berlin
to West Berlin, in an attempt could once more escape announced in a press statement has been re-elevated to its status
to starve West Berlin into communist oppression, this that, in his opinion, the border as capital city, with the Bundestag
submission. time through the newly between East and West Berlin completing its move back from
opened border between should be opened immediately. Bonn in 2001. Berlin has emerged
A constant flow of air traffic Hungary and Austria. Mikhail Massive crowds rushed to the as a modern, forward thinking
from West Germany to Gorbachev, the President of border crossings, and faced with utopia where anyone can find
10 the USSR, issued a statement the option of letting them through something to suit their tastes. AE 11