Berlin (GERMANY / EUROPE)

Berlin is one of the most famous metropolitan cities and capital of Germany. It is located in the northeastern side of Germany and is also one of the major hub of politics, science and culture.

Known for its culture and art scene, Berlin boasts three world class opera houses. There is the Deutsche Opera, the Berlin State Opera and the Komische Opera. All three of these are renowned and continue to operate.

The history of Berlin starts with its foundation in the 14th century. It became the capital of the Margraviate of Brandenburg in 1417, later the capital of Brandenburg-Prussia and then the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia grew rapidly in the 18th and 19th centuries and formed the basis of the German Empire in 1871. The empire would survive until 1918 when it was defeated in World War I.

After 1900 Berlin became a major world city, known for its leadership roles in science, music, museums, higher education, diplomacy and military affairs. It also had a role in manufacturing and finance.

During World War II, bombing, artillery, and ferocious street-by-street fighting destroyed large parts of Berlin. Berlin was subsequently divided among the four major Allied powers and for over four decades it encapsulated the Cold War confrontation between West and East. With the reunification of Germany in 1990, Berlin was restored as the capital and as a major world city.

Berlin is also the greenest city of Germany. Close to 30% of the entire city is made up of green space, such as parks and woodland areas. There are more than 71,000 gardens in the city, and the streets are lined with 430,000 trees.

Germany is well known for its beer, and the Berlin International Beer Festival is an annual highlight. On the first weekend of August beer enthusiasts descend on the city. The 2.2km stretch along Karl-Marx-Allee turns into the world’s longest beer garden.

Much like the crazy fact that Birmingham in UK has more miles of canals than Venice, Berlin has more bridges than Venice. There are more than 1,700 bridges throughout the city.

The city has nine stunning castles. The top 3 are: Schloss Charlottenburg ,  Köpenicker Schloss and Schloss Schönhausen. Additionally, there are 6 smaller castles.

“When I came to the city that I hadn’t seen for years, I stopped. The huge city had fallen to its knees like a gray giant, the roofs were on the ground floor. A forest of ruins surrounded the wanderer. […] The city was silent. “ – Günter Weisenborn, 1945