The “Zoologischer Garten Berlin” is the oldest zoological garden in Germany. Martin Hinrich Lichtenstein, zoologist of the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Berlin (today: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) persuaded king Frederick William IV of Prussia in 1841 to give money and land for a zoological garden. Today 18.000 animals of 1.400 species are living there. Continue reading “Berlin Zoo”
Fish mob
The aquarium in Berlin, Germany is part of the zoological garden. You can visit it solely or buy a combined ticket. It has been opened in 1913 and looks a bit old-fashioned: no big tanks, no glass tunnels to walk through; only classic fish tanks with the most beautiful fishes of the world. In addition reptiles, frogs and butterflies can be found here, too. Continue reading “Fish mob”
The Heilandskirche
If you leave Berlin, Germany via Kladow you won’t recognize that you have left Berlin and entered the federal state of Brandenburg. On small roads you can reach Sacrow, belonging to Potsdam. This place offers a small castle, a wonderful park and directly at the river Havel, the Heilandskirche. Continue reading “The Heilandskirche”
Agents gateway
The Glienicker Brücke is a bridge spanning the river Havel and the cities Berlin and Potsdam in Germany. Therefore it was a bridge from the FDR to the GDR while Germany was devided. Because of its remote position it was used as a checkpoint for military staff and a place to exhange secret agents that have been captured. Continue reading “Agents gateway”
Pack die Badehose ein
What to do if it is really hot and you’re in a big city like Berlin, Germany? Well, there are some outdoor pools in different parts of the city, but there is also a unique opportunity: in the south of Berlin the river Havel forms a natural bay and along its shore there is a sand beach.
Continue reading “Pack die Badehose ein”Weserliedanlage
It is well known that in Hann. Münden, Germany the two rivers Werra and Fulda unite to a mighty stream called Weser. And that there is a stone (the “Weserstein“) at the confluence to tell this story. But there is also a song for the river Weser written in 1835 by Franz von Dingelstedt – and for this song you can find a memorial up above Hann. Münden.
Continue reading “Weserliedanlage “Wedding at the Gleichen
The “Gleichen” are two mountains in a German region named after these two close to Göttingen, Germany. They are 428 and 430 meters high and on their tops, there have been fortresses in medieval times. These fortifications have never been conquered but in the 16th century CE the inhabitants left them and they became ruins. Continue reading “Wedding at the Gleichen”
The Kiessee
Once it was a gravel pit, now it is one of the most important recreational areas of Göttingen, Germany. The 15 hectares big lake in the southwest at the border to Rosdorf is a good choice if you want to walk a nice round on a sunday afternoon. But you can also have a picnic there, take your kids to a playground or do water sports.
Continue reading “The Kiessee”Castle ruin
Nörten-Hardenberg, Germany is a small town with 8.000 souls close to my hometown Göttingen. I never visited this spot unless a good friend of mine choose to marry here at the castle ruin above the town. The ruin is simply preserved and not restored – only the old cellar room has been restored to serve as a marriage registration office. Continue reading “Castle ruin”
The Gendarmenmarkt
A place in the centre of Berlin, Germany that is called the most beautiful place of the city. In the middle there is the Schauspielhaus, a theatre built in neoclassicistic style by famous architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel. On both sides it is framed by the two churches: “Deutscher Dom” (German Church), and “Französischer Dom” (French Church of Friedrichstadt). Continue reading “The Gendarmenmarkt”