The Richest Day (Reichstag - Berlin)

Member Name: zoe_page_1

Product:	Reichstag - Berlin
Date:	31/01/02 (58 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: In die Meinung

Disadvantages: Das weiss ich nicht

One of the problems with being at a smallish university and studying a language other than French is the people you end up with in your classes. Actually that sounds a bit nasty, and all of the others (all 8 of them….) are great, but they study some, erm, interesting subjects. We have Gerard doing Physics, Maggie and Laura doing Biochemistry and Natalie and Christina doing Textiles among others. We have to do subject related oral presentations occasionally, which is how the Reichstag came up in conversation. One of the textile pair brought in a book showing wonderful designs, and it featured this place (which is the reason I’m writing on it now if you were wondering where all this was leading).

The Reichstag (translation – rich day?) was built between the years 1884 and 1894 to house the German Parliament. This in itself is enough to warrant a visit from history buffs, but the reason I, along with many other tourists, was dragged there was to see (and climb) the newly added glass dome. This was erected in the second half of the 1990s and was designed by, wait for it, a Brit. To be exact, Sir Norman Foster aka the bloke behind that wobbly bridge in London and LSE’s new library. My mother’s an LSE graduate and so seeing as she was in Berlin with me, that was another reason to go.

We get up early in my family, even when on holiday, so we were there shortly after it opened. We had to queue to get in but not for an unbearable length of time. It was lucky we went when we did, because on leaving an hour and a half or so later, the queues were stretching out of the door, down the hill and around the corner onto the main street, such was the interest. Inside, what with it being the place the parliament types hang out, security is tighter than at other tourist spots. Bags and people are send through x ray machines and metal detectors respectively, and even so security guards seemed to be puling people aside randomly for spot sea
rches. This hasn’t happened to me since 1992 when, a fashion conscious 9 year old, I was puled over at Manchester airport for wearing too big a belt……

Once inside we were allowed to queue (and the Germans are as bad as the French at this) for the lifts which were both small and slow if you consider the vast numbers of visitors they have to transport each day. We made it to the top though, and from there we were allowed to start walking up. The place is set up kind of like an orange peel – round and round higher and higher until you reach the top. The path is sloped not staired, and so makes it suitable for those in wheel chairs, although those with children may find it a pain – if only because the little rascals race to the top and then make jumping-off motions (not possible of course since it’s all enclosed).

At the top and the bottom are exhibitions about the place’s history (most only in German) and comfy seats to get you breath back. And that’s it. No films. No shops. One posh looking and incidentally closed when we went café. You walk up and then you walk down. Not wonderful exciting, but fun all the same if you’re like me and enjoy, ahem, climbing things. An alternative or complement to the Berliner Dom (I did both), there are some nice views from the top if a little limited in distance and obscured by fingerprinted glass.

Guided tours of the main building are available, but apart from for these, entrance is totally free. The dome is open from 8am to midnight daily, but as I mentioned I would recommend avoiding the middle part of the day if at all possible.

Nearest s-bahn is Unter den Linden (lines S1 and S2, or pink and green), and busses 100, 248 and 257 all pass close by.

Useful Websites :

www.bundestag.de/htdocs_e/index.html

www.reichstag-info.de

Summary: