Charlottenburg, Berlin
It was not only
Charlottenburg's location which made it the centre of West
Berlin after the city was divided. Zoo station, the
International Congress Center and a strip of Kurfürstendamm
(which runs through Charlottenburg and Wilmersdorf) are just
as much a part of the district as the Kaiser Wilhelm
Memorial Church and the Olympic Stadium.
One of the most concentrated centres of Berlin life is the
stretch of Kurfürstendamm between Breitscheidplatz and
Joachimstaler Platz. This is the famous Kranzler-Eck which
also boasts a glass office building remodelled by the
architect Helmut Jahn. The often photographed Kaiser Wilhelm
Memorial Church stands at the heart of Breitscheidplatz. It
was left in ruins as a memorial after its destruction in
1943. Between 1957 and 1963 a new church was built beside
it. Constructed in the sixties, the Europa Center was
Germany's first shopping mall. It houses over 100 retail
shops and a
The 76,000 seat Olympic Stadium and adjacent Maifeld, where
villas meet the edge of Grunewald, attest to the monumental
architecture of the Nazi period. The home pitch of Hertha
BSC staged the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Final. From 2000
to 2004 the stadium was completely revamped in preparation
for the event while still hosting matches. On the opposite
side of the Maifeld is the Waldbühne, one of Europe's
largest open air theatres, seating nearly 20,000. Its
verdant surroundings make it a popular backdrop for concerts
and major events.
One of Charlottenburg's most alluring areas is also its
oldest section and was an affluent and independent city
itself until 1920. Here you will find Schloss Charlottenburg,
a magnificent residence constructed in Italian Baroque style
and surrounded by a lovely park perfect for taking a
relaxing break. Extending from the south is Schlossstraße,
worth visiting for its museums as well as its noble villas.
The Bröhanmuseum displays design, art and fin de siècle
jewellery while the elegant Stülerbau houses the Berggruen
collection and contains paintings by Picasso, Klee and Van
Gogh.
Location map
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