Berlin's Top Sights

Unter den Linden, Kurfürstendamm and Alexanderplatz; these streets and squares are well known even outside of Berlin. But after whom are the streets and squares named and what is their story? Unter den Linden This boulevard got its name from the lime trees that have been planted there. In 1647 the Great Elector planted on a former bridle path, which led from the castle to the Tiergarten, walnut and lime trees. The walnut trees died within a short time, but the lime trees still exist. Friedrichstrasse This popular street was named after Friedrich (English Frederick) King in Prussia (1657-1713). After the death of his father, the Great Elector, Frederick became in 1688 Elector of Brandenburg. In 1701 he crowned himself as Friedrich I. King in Prussia. Friedrichstraße Alexanderplatz The former cattle - and wool market got its name during a Berlin visit of the Russian Tsar Alexander I in 1805. Alexander I was a favorite of Queen Luise and an ally agai...

The area around the popular Kurfürstendamm is called City West. In the late 19th century the Kurfürstendamm was constructed. The street and its environment evolved into an exclusive area, that was preferred by the rich and famous. In the 1920's it reached its popularity. A fter the war and the division of Berlin the area remained popular. But after the reunification of Berlin and Germany developers and visitors focused more on the center of the former East-Berlin. Only recently the City West experienced a new boom. New buildings like the noble Waldorf Astoria hotel were erected, the Bikini House that was build in the 1950's was reconstructed into an expensive shopping mall. The development is not over yet! The KaDeWe is the biggest department store on the European Continent. By the way, KaDeWe is the abbreviation of Kaufhaus des Westens (Department Store of the West). It opened in 1907 and offers six floors of pure shopping pleasure. The highlight is the food depar...