35 YEARS SINCE THE FALL OF THE WALL

Do you enjoy the outside on wonderfully autumnal or wintry days? Then bundle up in your scarf and hat and follow the erstwhile path of the Berlin Wall on foot or bike. Stretching over 155 kilometres, the Berlin Wall route is divided into 14 sections, each measuring between seven and 21 kilometres. The hiking and cycle path is signposted and takes you past oases of nature as well as historically interesting stations, such as the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Straße and the East Side Gallery – the longest preserved section of the Wall and the world's largest open-air gallery. In 1990, 118 artists from 21 countries expressed their euphoria and optimism in the form of murals and graffiti along 1.3 kilometres of the Wall. In celebration of 35 years since the fall, visitors to Berlin will be treated to an impressive sight on and around 9 November, 2024. In remembrance of the peaceful revolution of East Germany, historical placards and banners will be placed along significant stations of the former path of the Wall. Stretching over kilometres, the installation will be complemented by numerous new works created as part of Kulturprojekte Berlin, a project asking for people's emblems of the fight for freedom, which are as relevant today as they were back then. On the weekend of 9 November, there is also a special programme at the Berlin Wall Memorial and East Side Gallery with live speaking, witnesses from the time, discussions, and other events.

Berlin has welcomed you with cold, wet weather? Then visit its many museums and memorials and learn more about the history of the formerly divided city and the Berlin Wall. The Wall Museum – Checkpoint Charlie impressively shows plans for escaping the East. Some successful and failed plans included a hot air balloon and even a mini-submarine. Not so far from there you will also find the striking THE WALL – asisi Panorama Berlin by the artist Yadegar Asisi. A rotunda is home to a 900 square-metre exhibition of everyday life in the former West Berlin neighbourhood of Kreuzberg during the 1980s. There is also a photo exhibition of pictures by contemporary witnesses, detailing life in the shadow of the Wall. Discover the history of the Wall at the Die Mauer | The Wall museum on Leipziger Platz in central Berlin. This features multimedia elements and original exhibits that include newspaper clippings, photos, and uniforms from 1961 to 1989. Berlin's insider tips include the GDR Watchtower on Potsdamer Platz. Climb the ladder and see the city from the POV of a GDR border soldier of the era. Another poignant location is the Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears) and its permanent Site of German Division exhibition, which recounts the fates of families and friends torn apart. Built in 1962, the terminal hall at Friedrichsstraße station served as a border crossing point between East and West Berlin. After so much history, is a short break in order? Then you should visit one of Berlin's wonderful tea houses. Tadshikische Teestube can be found hidden away in Kunsthof and is a delightful retreat. Sit on the ground or at a table in an authentic atmosphere and sip from the finest varieties of tea. My insider's tip: Don't miss out on trying the tea with marmalade and raisins. The food there is fantastic too.

How did people from the East and the West see the Berlin Wall? This is the subject of the exhibition “The Wall. Before, After, East and West”, which focuses on the years around the Fall (1989/1990). In contrast to artists from West Berlin, who often captured the Wall in the form of large-format artworks, this was prohibited for artists in the East – so the Wall barely played a role in the official art scene. The Wall was generally captured in smaller, private works. The exhibition illustrates the role it played in contemporary art at the time, and highlights the various perspectives, as well as how these evolved, as the Fall of the Wall played out. The main focus are works from the Berlin Volksbank collection, which was founded in 1985. It is no coincidence that the site of the exhibition is at the Brandenburg Gate Foundation, in the restored Max Liebermann building adjacent to the gate. The Berlin landmark stood as a symbol of the border between East and West Berlin for many years and today serves as an icon of unity. The exhibition is open to visitors from 8 November, 2024, to 2 March, 2025.

What is East German cuisine like? The answer can be found in Berlin's authentic restaurants, which continue to serve hearty home cooking rich in East German flair. Enjoy the nostalgia of former East Germany at Volkskammer and Pionierlager. Even after 35 years since the Fall of the Berlin Wall, they still serve classics such as Soljanka, Jägerschnitzel, and Broiler. The authentic interior designs also go a long way to help turn a visit into a nostalgic trip back through time. Today there are also vegetarian and vegan options available. Following the meal, enjoy the charm of East Germany in Berlin's pubs and bars. Original pubs can be found in central Berlin, such as Gaststätte W. Prassnik, where you can spend a relaxed evening enjoying the pub's house-brewed beer in an authentic atmosphere. The cult bar Die Tagung in Friedrichshain also welcomes you with beer on tap and East German vibes, artifacts, and interior decoration. By the way: Both bars allow smoking. Would you like to enjoy some authentic baking? Traditional baking of the highest order can be found at the bakeries: Hacker and Biesewski in Prenzlauer Berg. Delicious cakes, bread, and other tasty treats are all on offer alongside genuine classics such as Splitterbrötchen, Schusterjungs, and Schrippen bread rolls.

Enjoy a few relaxing hours warm and dry beneath the starry sky. Zeiss Planetarium was opened in Prenzlauer Berg on 9 October 1987 to mark 750 years of Berlin history. It is one of the last remaining showpiece buildings of the GDR. Since undergoing modernisation between 2014 and 2016, it boasts modern technology to offer an impressive experience for the whole family. Discover the mysteries of the universe beneath the 360-degree dome and dive into the world of astronomy. The interplay of visual effects, sounds, and narration result in an immersive experience. In addition to trips through space, the planetarium also offers showings from other areas of science, such as biology, chemistry, and medicine. There are also regular events, such as Science Slam, concerts, and film screenings.

When it’s cold outside, Berlin's repertory film theatres beckon, offering programmes that include blockbusters, arthouse films, and indie films in an historical setting. One of the capital's oldest is the Babylon in Berlin Mitte, which opened in 1929. Dissidents found temporary sanctuary there during World War II. After suffering minor damage during the war, it reopened in 1948. During the 1980s, it was the only "arthouse cinema" in East Berlin. It was also the venue of the GDR's state film archive. The listed building, with its entrance area with a sweeping stairway, its large stage with heavy curtains, and the old, creaking seats, offers an authentic historical setting. In the large hall to the front and left is the last remaining silent film organ in its original location to be found in Germany. It was restored in 2019. The Babylon continues to screen silent films – with a live orchestra. The varied film programme includes many classics. Readings and concerts are also held there regularly. An impressive place for all culture fans!

The fall of the Berlin Wall birthed a period of optimism in the capital city. A sense of freedom hung in the air. However, Germany's reunification posed many challenges. People who grew up in two vastly different systems now came face to face. Impressions from eventful years following the Fall are illustrated in the C/O exhibition Dream On – Berlin in the Nineties running at Amerika-Haus from 14 September, 2024, to 23 January, 2025. On display are around 200 photos by Agentur Ostkreuz, which was founded by seven East German photographers in 1990. The images capture the atmosphere of the younger generation who gravitated to alternative communities that made use of the empty factories, cellars, and bunkers as unofficial clubs. New at the time, techno music found its way from Detroit and Chicago to Berlin and remains as a symbol of those years. Berlin's techno culture even became part of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage in 2024. Would you like to experience Berlin's clubs as cultural spaces? Berghain, Tresor, SO36, and many more clubs allow you to immerse yourself in a completely different world and dance the night away. Alongside techno and electro beats, you can also enjoy other genres and cultural events there.