A ride through Berlin with the BVG Bus - M48

The BVG is a good way  to discover Berlin in a relaxing way. On a ride with the bus M48 you will pass places, houses and town halls that played an important part in Berlin's history. From the noble suburb of Zehlendorf, the M48 starts its journey through the city to Alexanderplatz.




From Zehlendorf to Kleistpark
  The first sight is Zehlendorf’s octagonal village church. It dates from 1768. One of the most popular excursion destinations in its neighbor district Steglitz is the Botanical Garden. It was officially opened in 1910. Previously, the Botanical Garden was located in Schöneberg - we will pass the site later! A relatively small castle - or rather said a manor house, that still exists - gave its name to the busy Schloßstraße (castle street). It was built around 1804 and a part of the building houses a theatre. The Schloßstraße is one of the most important shopping streets in Berlin. It has got three large shopping centers!  Impressive is the Town Hall in Friedenau (inaugurated 1917).


The M48 now drives right through Schöneberg.The village church of Schöneberg originally dates from the 18th century. After destruction in the Second World War, it was rebuilt in the 1950s.The Kleistpark was for 200 years the site of the  Botanical Garden.The Kleistpark houses a historic courthouse. The imposing colonnades date back to 1780 and were rebuilt here in 1910. Once they were situated near Alexanderplatz.

From the Sportpalast to Alexanderplatz
The M48 also passes the Potsdamer Straße, where the legendary Sportpalast, the place of many events once stood.
But in 1973 it was demolished, a modern residential block, the Pallasseum or Social Palace was erected instead. Museums, art galleries and other cultural institutions, including the famous Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, are located at the Kulturforum that was created in the early 1960’s. 

View of the  Berliner Philharmonie at the Kulturforum
The next interesting stop on our ride with the M48 is at Potsdamer Platz. Many restaurants and  attractions, including a shopping center, invite you to spend some diverting hours. Then the M48 passes the Spittelmarkt colonnades. They were erected in 1776 by Carl von Gontard, who also built the colonnades at Kleistpark. The Fischerinsel (fishing island) is one of the oldest inhabited places in Berlin. It was first settled by wealthy fishermen in the Middle Ages. Look at the modern houses, they are called Plattenbauten and were typical GDR residential buildings. 
Before the M48 reaches its destination it passes several landmarks.The Berlin Cathedral, (built 1895 - 1905 by Julius Raschdorf) can be seen from the M48. The Red Town Hall was built in 1868 by Hermann Friedrich Waesemann (1813-1879) and takes its name from the color of the bricks. The twin towers, which are now seen, belong to the Nikolaikirche (St. Nicolas Church) - the oldest church in Berlin, located in the historic Nikolaiviertel district. The Marienkirche - (St. Mary's church) the second-oldest church in Berlin - is not as old as the Nikolaikirche. Finally, the M48 reaches  Alexanderplatz. 

The Nicolaiviertel and the spires of St. Nicolas Church

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