Experience the story of a daring escape attempt over the Berlin Wall by Heinz Holzapfel and his family. This story takes place at the former "House of Ministries" in Berlin. Today the building is the Detlev-Rohwedder-Haus and the site of the German Finance Ministry. 



While there, take note of the architecture of the building, originally built in 1935. The building has a long history. On the side of the building towards Leipzig Straße, you can also see the large mural created by artist Max Lingner. The 18 meters mural was added between 1950-52.



The location can be found in the Mitte district in the center of Berlin. The sight is near to Postdamer Platz and can be reached from the closest U-Bahn stations Mohrenstr and Kochstr/ Checkpoint Charlie. The locations of Topography of Terror and Checkpoint Charlie can be found nearby.

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The Brandenburg Gate is one of the most popular landmarks in Berlin and the first stop for many tourists visiting the city. It is a symbol of the division and reintegration of Germany and is one of the most-visited landmarks in the region.

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Constructed in the late 1700s, the Brandenburg Gate was the country’s first Greek revival building. The gate can be seen as a symbol of the country’s unstable past and its diplomatic achievements. 



You can find the Brandenburg Gate at the end of Unter den Linden, a short walk from the Brandenburger Tor train station.

Brandenburg Gate

Walking along the paths of Tiergarten, the city’s largest park, you come across the Siegessäule, Berlin’s Victory Column. This monument has stood the test of time from the Kingdom of Prussia through Nazi rule into modern Germany.



The Victory Column sits at the hub of 210 hectares of urban gardens, winding past the Spree river and you can hear the sounds of busy commuters circling the Grosser Stern square. The Siegessäule is among Berlin’s most famous landmarks and serves as a top destination for visitors to the area.

Siegessaule

Entering through the gateway just to the right of Hackesche Höfe you step into a system of three connecting courtyards. These lie at the heart of Haus Schwarzenberg, a hidden gem in Berlin Mitte. Just a short walk away from Hackescher Markt S-Bahn station this place is best known as one of Berlin´s prime spots to see street art and there is a lot more to discover if you take the time to look below the surface.

Haus Schwarzenburg

Jutting out of the trees above, you see the derelict, eerie remains of Field Station Berlin, a spy facility that once hosted a thriving espionage operation at the height of Cold War tensions. 

The now iconic spy station was built by the American military in the aftermath of the Second World War, for the purpose of intercepting and monitoring Soviet radio signals.

These battered antenna domes looming above are remnants of a fascinating and layered history that connect the Second World War, The Cold War, and the present day.

Teufelsberg

Just at the edge of a rectangular man-made pond lies a strange looking hill. It’s shaped similarly to a pyramid with distinct levels, and a stairwell leading up its center. At the top is a circular halo that shades a sculpture of a globe dedicated to Otto Lilienthal, the german aviation pioneer known as the “flying man”. This is Fleigeberg.

Fliegeberg dates back to 1894. Built by German pioneer Otto Lilienthal, its purpose was to serve as a gliding spot so the inventor could test his flying machines.

Fliegeberg

We met up with local comedian and writer Daniel-Ryan Spaulding to have him tell us about one of his favorite spots in Berlin, Mariannenplatz. It is situated in Kreuzberg just on the edge of Mitte and Friedrichshain and has a ton to offer from an art center to the ping pong tables and outdoor cinema, Mariannenplatz is a favorite among the locals.

Mariannenplatz

The Berliner Dom has gone through many changes over the centuries and has been a place of worship for both Catholics and Protestants alike. The interior of the Berliner Dom is just as extravagant and glorious as the exterior.

If you are up for the task and want to see Berlin in all its glory, make your way up the 270 stairs to the walkway that is located on the external portion of the dome. The climb may be tiring, but the scenery and landscapes make it absolutely worth it.

Berliner Dome

On the corner of Albrechtstraße and Reinhardstraße, within walking distance of the Spree, a 6 story concrete building stands in the heart of Berlin Mitte. This is the Boros Collection; a private, one of a kind art gallery situated inside a converted World War 2 bunker that consists of contemporary artworks created by local and international artists such as Martin Boyce, Paulo Nazareth, Pamela Rosenkranz and many more.

Boros Collection

We met up with Sissi Chen, local Berlin food blogger, who runs a website, instagram and youtube channel under the name Eating in Berlin. She gave us the lowdown on one of her favorite type of drinks to get in Berlin, Bubble Tea, and also where to find the best one.

Check out ComeBuy Tea in Charlottenburg for an authentic tasting bubble tea.

Bubble Tea

Heading along the traffic-filled road between the S-Bahn station Greifswalder Straße and Danziger Straße, it’s impossible to miss the imposing bronze monument set amid a field of concrete slabs. Especially when one notices the conspicuously outdated high rise apartment blocks looming in the background.

The heroic figure staring defiantly into the distance in front of you is Ernst Thälmann, one time leader of Germany’s communist party. His memorial guards the entrance to Ernst Thälmann park, one of the last socialist prestige projects to be completed by the East German government in Berlin.

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