Alexanderplatz
FERNSEHTURM, WORLD CLOCK, ROTES RATHAUS, NEPTUNE FOUNTAIN, MARX-ENGELS FORUM

Alexanderplatz, nicknamed Alex, was the center of East Berlin in the what was then DDR. It was reconstructed since it turned to ruins after WWII, and is still in constant change. And it is still today one of the most important squares in Berlin, situated in the middle of the city center, Mitte. You can find large structures, benches, restaurants and large department stores here. It is the site for Berlin's most famous landmark, the TV Tower, Fernsehturm, that also is the tallest structure in Germany (watch the views from the tower in this section). The TV tower parts the square in two pieces; the one to the Northeast with the department stores and malls (incl. Alexis, Berlin's largest shopping mall), the tall Park Inn hotel (formerly Forum), the train station and the World Clock monument and the fountain, this part is more modern and DDR looking, and the one to the Southeast with the Neptune Fountain, the Rotes Rathaus (Red Town Hall), Marienkirche and the park Marx-Engels-Forum next to it -this part is far more beautiful and is both more green and more classic historic looking and borders the recreated "historic" neighbourhood Nikolaiviertel. The Fernsehturm is right in the middle. It makes it even more confusing that a part of the square was under construciton (August 2012). Even though the square features both modern and historic buildings, there is still a DDR feeling to it because of the many grey structures surrounding it, and there are plans to reconstruct the site but has been delayed ever since the 90s. 10, or at least 2 new skyscrapers are planned for the area, that will be among Berlin's tallest. Unter den Linden, Berlin's most famous avenue, begins close to Alexanderplatz, that is named after the Russian tsar Alexander I.

Fernsehturm:

Fernsehturm is the TV tower that is Berlin and Germany's tallest structure, 368m to the top of the spire. It is situated in the middle of Alexanderplatz and is the most prominent landmark of Berlin, without competition. Its futuristic globe has been a famous symbol for the city. It was completed in 1969, when East Berlin belonged to DDR. It is member of the "World Federation of Great Towers" and was designed by the architect Hermann Henselmann. There is an observation deck and a rotating restaurant inside the globe.Watch the views from the tower in this section.

Standing right below Fernsehturm, Germany's tallest freestanding structure.

The foot of Fernsehturm.

The podium that the tower stands on has four sharp edges.

Fernsehturm and Park Inn.

Close-up of the globe that is open for visitors. Note the bronze coloured windows, the lower ones are the observation deck and the upper one the rotating restaurant.

Extremely fast elevators take you to the observation deck! In the back is Marienkirche.

Southwest side (old part):

View of the southwest part of Alexanderplatz and Marx-Engels Forum, seen from the stairs of Fernsehturm.

Looking towards the Berliner Dom and south part of Alexanderplatz, that is far more green and beautiful then the more modern and DDR looking North part.

Rotes Rathaus is the (Red) City Hall of Berlin. The name comes from the exterior's red bricks and not from communism or blood, as some may think. It was completed in 1869. During my visit (Aug 2012) a large construction site was just outside the building.

The entrance to Rotes Rathaus, designed by Hermann Friedrich Waesemann.

It was the city hall for East Berlin during the division of Berlin.

The Neptune Fountain (Neptunbrunnen) is probably one of the most beautiful fountains in Europe. It was completed in 1891 and designed by Reinhold Begas.

The 10m high Neptunusbrunnen with the air balloon in the background.

The fountain was, dedicated to Neptune, was originally situated at Stadtschloss, the old castle at Schlossplatz, before it was demolished in 1969 to make way for the DDR Palaste der Republik, now in turn recently demolished and empty space. There are plans to rebuild the once large Stadtschloss.

Marienkirche (St Mary's Church) is another historic building on the soutwest side of Alexanderplatz. It is not known when exactly it was built, but it is presumed to date from the early 13th century, making it the oldest church in Berlin together with Nikolaikirche.

Marienkirche seen from Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse. It was rebuilt in the 1950s, then in DDR, since the destruction during WWII.

Rotes Rathaus and Fernsehturm seen from the southeast edge of Alexanderplatz.

Northeast side (modern part):

A yellow typical Berlin double decker and the Park Inn hotel.

Typical grey highrises that surround Alexanderplatz, in DDR style, or "commie style" if you want.

"Fountain of Friendship between Peoples", a socialist style fountain.

The modernist fountain at Alexanderplatz is a popular place to sit and have a lunch break (like me).

A yellow tram stops outside the new Saturn electronics department store.

Park Inn, formerly the Forum Hotel, is the tallest highrise building in Berlin and the tallest hotel in Germany. It has been recladded with a glass facade. It has its own observation deck, called Panorama 37.

Park Inn has a height of 127m and 37 floors. It was built in 1970 and opened as the Hotel Stadt Berlin.

To the right is the large department store Galeria Kaufhof. Fernsehturm, Bahnhof Alexanderplatz and C&A clothes department store can also be seen in this picture.

The atrium of Galeria Kaufhof, built in 1970 as Centrum-Warenhaus in what was then DDR.

A reminder from the DDR times when the department store opened.

The top of Galeria Kaufhof´s atrium.

The Worldtime Clock, Weltzeithuhr, shows the time in different parts of the world. It is a popular meeting place, and features street musicians, as here. The trams pass right next to it.

Weltzeithuhr and the Park Inn, Berlin's tallest skyscraper.

CUBIX film palace.

Views of Alexanderplatz, seen from Fernsehturm:

You can see more views of Fernsehturm on this page.

Alexis (left) is Germany's largest shopping mall, it opened in 2007 with 180 stores. To the right is a palace like building. View from Fernsehturm.

Alexanderplatz Northeast part from Fernsehturm.

Park Inn, Berlin's tallest building, is dwarfed by the Fernsehturm (tallest structure, not counted as a building).

The circular socialist fountain of Alexanderplatz.

The southwest part seen from Fernsehturm.

Bahnhof Alexanderplatz with its elevated railway track.

Inside Bahnhof Alexanderplatz.

Radisson Blu Hotel with the Berliner Dom in the background. The neighbouring Palast der Republik from the DDR times has recently been torn down.The street is Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse that further to the left changes name to Unter den Linden.

A passage with glass roof between the Radisson and an office building. It features restaurants and fountains.

The interior of the Radisson Blu Hotel features a high atrium with a cylinder shaped aquarium in the middle. Inside the aquarium there is a round glass elevator that goes right through the water with views of the fishes. The elevator is part of a sea museum, so it can't be reached through the hotel, unfortunately.

The lower part of the aquarium/elevator.

Marx-Engels-Forum:

This is a small park between Alexanderplatz and River Spree, created by the DDR in 1986. It was named after Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, the authors of the 1948 The Communist Manifesto. They are regardes as the founders of the communism movement.

Marx-Engels Forum and the Fernsehturm. Today both tourist attractions.

Karl Marx (sitting) and Friedrich Engels (standing).

The place is of big controversy, since many Berliners don't want to be reminded of the communist past.

Alexanderplatz skyline, landmarks from the left: Marienkirche, Park Inn, Fernsehturm, Rotes Rathaus.