Gedächtniskirche	Schloss Charlottenburg

 
In Charlottenburg one can find the Castle Charlottenburg, the only well preserved large castle ground in Berlin. The way to the Eastern part of the city passes the Statue of Victory at the Big Star (Großer Stern) which was reopened after a long time of redecoration in April 1999 in the middle of the famous Tiergarten [the central park of Berlin], the reopened and often visited “Reichstag” as well as the symbol of Berlin, the “Brandenburg Gate”. 
 

Reichstag	Brandenburg Gate	Potsdamer Platz

 

There is much to see in the historical center of Berlin Mitte. The new and highly modern quarter around the Potsdamer Platz that you already know well stands in contrast to the numerous historical buildings which can be found in this area, like for example the traditional Red Town Hall, the Prussia Land Parliament and the Martin-Gropius-Building.

 

The Gendarmenmarkt is known as one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. Central eye catcher is the Schauspielhaus built by Schinkel. In the north the French and in the south the German Dome flank the square. Furthermore you discover the Humboldt University, in the elegant boulevard Unter Den Linden. The Palace of Republic, the Lustgarten, the Nikolai quarter, Alexander Platz and Karl Marx Allee with its Socialist architecture and much, much more. New experiences are guaranteed.

 

Island of Museums
On this guided tour you will visit the famous Museum Island. Pergamonmuseum is famous for its reconstruction of fragments of ancient towns, as well as the original friezes from the Pergamon altar. Furthermore Neues Museum, Bodemuseum, Alte Nationalgalerie are other famous museum worth visiting.

 

The Berlin Wall
In 1961, the East German authorities built a wall around the enclave of West Berlin to prevent their own citizens from escaping into the "golden west". Originally just a barbed wire fence, the Berlin Wall was subsequently fortified into an almost impregnable obstacle. Nevertheless, thousands of East Germans risked their lives trying to escape into West Berlin - through, under or over the Wall. Many were killed, wounded or arrested while doing so. When communism collapsed in 1989, the Berlin Wall was opened and then dismantled. This tour will show you what remains of the Berlin Wall, what it meant for the inhabitants of the city and how people are coming to terms with its legacy.

We would like to start at the Friedrichstrasse and walk to the Spreebogen area, following the course of the Wall to Checkpoint Charlie and covering the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Holocaust Memorial, the new Memorial for the Murdered European Jews (Shoa Memorial)
Potsdamer Platz, Topography of Terror and all the many items of interest concerning the Wall along the way. 

Museum Isle	Checkpoint Charlie

 

Berlin without Potsdam is like Paris without Versailles - leave Berlin without a trip to its royal residence, and you can't say you've seen Berlin! Potsdam's fairy-tale landscapes look like a blessing from nature, but are the result of hundreds of years of human endeavour, in pursuit of paradise on earth. Visit the mock-16th century palace of Cecilienhof, and see the lakeside Marble Palace with its Greek temple ruins, and the dreamlike castle of Babelsberg. What are an idyllic Russian village, beautiful towers and churches from the Italian Renaissance, and an 18th century Dutch town doing here?

 

But the cruel realities of 20th century history shattered this world in 1945; we explain how the old city palace was destroyed at the end of the war. See where an American president, a Soviet dictator and a British prime minister sealed the fate of Germany and Europe, ushering in the Cold War - cross the "spy swap" bridge and see where political opponents of the East German dictatorship were imprisoned. The tour ends back in the 18th century: finish in the beautiful park of "Sanssouci", literally "Without a Care"!

Sanssouci

Finally, for the Potsdam Tour, we have the group shuttled to Potsdam directly.

In Potsdam we would follow this route: Cecilienhof Palace; Dutch quarter; Brandenburg
Gate; Friedenskirche; east end of Sanssouci Park; Sanssouci itself. 

In the middle of the tour we will have a refreshment drink at the “alte mühle”.