The capital of Germany is one of the most beautiful cities in Central Europe. It is a city that was destroyed during WW II but is today rebuilt and standing in its full glory. In fact, it is most welcoming and second to none when it comes to the most liberal cities in Europe. There are thousands of tourists every year, even from Apartments in New york or apartment in Saint Petersburg. Berlin is full of surprises who feel they have seen it all. It is known to all that Berlin is full of pubs, museums, castles and all the remnants of a World War that shaped the destiny of this great city. Even hotels are easy to find than apartments in Istanbul. You have been to Berlin once and think you have seen everything that the city has to offer to a tourist. But believe me, the city has some hidden gems that you have to unearth and explore the inner nature of the city. Read on as this article will help you in getting close to the real Berlin.
Stralau peninsula
In old times, there was a tradition that fishermen gave all their catch to the priest on 24th of August and got a simple meal and a pint of beer in return. This was the last day of the fishing season and observed as St. Bartholomew’s Day. This tradition gave way to a public festival some three centuries later and was called Stralau Fish Parade. However, government had to ban the tradition as there were unruly behaviors after drinking on display that often led to infighting. Afterwards, this place was developed as an industrial site in late 19th century. By the beginning of 20th century, government decided to develop a waterfront property here with lots of residential apartments along with offices. The place is a must visit one for tourists. It houses one of the oldest churches in Berlin that was built in 1462.
Neu Venedig
If you loved Venice because of its romantic boat rides, wait till you see Neu Venedig. This is a water body where tourists sit in small boats and glide across with bridges made overhead for other tourists to see them. Originally, this place was a marsh land that was developed into a recreational facility with water sports and also residential homes being built around the area. During the times when we had East and West Germany, many East German government officials had cottages made here.
Stolpersteine (Stumbling Blocks)
This is an artwork that tries to remember all those who were original residents and were kileed in the holocaust. This is a project that was started by Gunter Demnig along with his friends and continues till date after having placed nearly 22000 inscriptions in brass carrying the names of the victims along with the concentration camp they were taken to before being killed. This was considered an illegal activity earlier but now has turned out to be a great attraction for the tourists.
Well, these are just a few of my hidden gems in Berlin though there can be more as one comes closer to people and the culture of the city.