CityGuide Berlin

If Berlin had to be defined in one word it would be transience for this city is in constant flux. This is also reflected in its architecture, Berlin having undergone three dramatic architectural changes in the last 120 years. Every era – be it the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, the Nazi era, student movement or the Reunification – was accompanied by memorable comments such as “Ich bin ein Berliner” (J.F. Kennedy after the construction of the Berlin wall) or “Now that which belongs together will grow together” (Willy Brandt after the fall of the wall). Every era has left its mark on the city, resulting in such cultural centres as Checkpoint Charlie, the Museum Island, the Kulturforum, the Dahlem Museums, the Palace of Charlottenburg, the government district, Zimmerstraße, the Auguststraße and the Invalidenstraße. Berlin is a hip unfinished city, attracting prominent artists and enthusiastic amateurs alike; indeed, to have worked in Berlin now is as important for an artist’s CV as it was to have worked in New York at the end of the 20th century. It is commonly thought that Berlin, a debt-ridden capital, invests too much money in culture what with its three opera houses, eight orchestras and over 160 museums. On a national level however, the city is missing half an opera house, ten theatres and over 100 museums. There is nevertheless always something new to discover in the ever changing Berlin.