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Those who are interested in political relevant sites and buildings will have not only the chance to learn more about Reichstag (Parliament) and Bundeskanzleramt (Federal Chancellery), but also explore many other locations worth seeing.

100

The roundtrip starts with bus 100 from Zoologischer Garten, direction Alexanderplatz.

The roundtrip starts at the station Zoologischer Garten where you get in bus 100 which leads you over Großer Stern with Siegessäule into Tiergarten. The bus passes the Bundespräsidialamt (Federal Presidential Office), a black elliptical building whose architecture is controversial as it appears like a black fortress due to its big walls of granite. At close quarters, there is Schloß Bellevue. Badly damaged in the Second World War, the palace was renovated from 1954-1959 as the official residence of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany. The three-winged complex was constructed in 1785/1786 and it is the first palace of Berlin to be built in the classical style. Schloß Bellevue has rather a representative character as numerous events and meetings of the Federal President take place here.

The so-called Abgeordnetenschlange on Joachim-Karnatz-Allee lies on the other bank of river Spree. This block of flats has been constructed for the politicians of Bonn. Due to their low inquiry, today all citizens can rent a flat as well.

You leave the bus at Haus der Kulturen der Welt (House of cultures of the world), the former Congress Hall, on John-Foster-Dulles-Allee. The new government district arose after the move from Bonn to Berlin in the midst of Tiergarten, which is incidentally very favoured by our politicians for jogging. In addition to the political meaning, the government buildings are also architecturally interesting. The ultra-modern Federal Chancellery, completed in 2001, is located on Paul-Löbe-Allee. This white building with its elliptical openings, in which 300 bureaus and 13 winter gardens are situated, is the headquarter of the German Chancellor. Behind the Federal Chancellery the light-grey building of the Swiss Embassy is located. The Federal Chancellery is part of the new complex of government buildings designed by the architects Charlotte Frank and Axel Schulte. On your walk along the avenue, you will pass by the modern parliament building Paul-Löbe-Haus. The Paul-Löbe-Haus houses a variety of offices, conference rooms and functional areas that ensure the smooth running of Parliament. A bridge connects the building to the Marie-Elisabeth-Lüders-Haus on the other side of the Spree. They were concerned as a kind of symbolic ribbon stretching across Spree, connecting East and West. The Marie-Elisabeth-Lüders-Haus contains the parliamentary library, the third-biggest in the world after Washington and Tokyo. The kindergarten of the German Parliament (Bundestag), that provides room for 170 children is located northerly of the Paul-Löbe-Haus.

After walking along the Konrad-Adenauer-Straße and crossing the bridge Schiffbauerdamm over the river Spree you will soon reach the Bundespresseamt (Federal Government's Press and Information Office). The office is now housed in a complex that combines restored historic edifices with an impressive new building. Press conferences with senior speakers of the ministries take place here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The Hauptstadtstudio (TV studio of the capital), the address for information of federal politics in Berlin is situated at the beginning of Wilhelmstraße, on the other bank of Spree. Here, the reports for the broadcast and TV-programs of ARD are recorded.

Just beside the Reichstag is the Jakob-Kaiser-Haus, which houses the bureaus of the deputies. Its architecture echoes and assimilates the forms of the historic Dorotheenstadt district in which it stands. Indeed, three older buildings are integrated into this complex: the Haus Sommer, the Kammer der Technik, and the former Reichstag Presidential Palace, designed by Paul Wallot and now the seat of the German Parliamentary Society.

Now you will have the chance to admire the Reichstag, the seat of the German parliament. A visit of the glass dome, which is fascinating illuminated by night, is especially impressive. Looking out over the roof garden or through the glass dome you can enjoy a unique panorama view of the inner city and feel right at the centre of German politics. You should plan some extra time for the visit because of the long queues, but the dome is worth a visit.

Afterwards you traverse the Brandenburger Tor, the symbol of German Reunification. The buildings on the square Pariser Platz were reconstructed after the fall of Berlin wall. The new building of the Embassy of France, returned to this historic site in 2003, is situated to the left of Brandenburger Tor. The Europa House where the European Commission is based, stands at the crossways to Wilhelmstraße. The Dresdner Bank building on the right side follows the architectural conventions of Pariser Platz closely, without degenerating into historicism. The architect Frank O. Gehry had to abide by numerous regulations for the sandstone external facade, but inside he realized a visionary sculpture above the conference room. Next to the bank, there is the luxurious and traditional Hotel Adlon, which also accommodates politicians of the whole world during their stay in Berlin. The British Embassy is situated on Wilhemstraße, directly behind the hotel. Furthermore, the new building of the Embassy of USA is opened in July 2008 between Pariser Platz and Behrenstraße. The Hungarian Embassy and the Polish Embassy string together to the right side of Unter den Linden and are followed by further bureaus of German Bundestag near Schadowstraße. The Embassy of Russia dominates the left side whose impressive buildings are constructed in a so-called Zuckerbäckerstil (confectioner-style) of the socialist epoch.

If you like to, there is now the chance for a trip to Ministergärten (gardens of ministers) to the west of Wilhelmstraße. They are the permanent representations of the Federal States. By the way, the summer festivals take place here every year and enjoy great popularity within politicians and journalists. The surrounding so-called Plattenbauten (slab constructions) are the residence for several deputies of Bundestag. To the east of Wilhelmstraße, there is the Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture, which has been the domicile of the Secret Civil Cabinet of Prussian king and German emperor Wilhelm II from 1900 to 1918.

100, 200

Please enter bus 100 or 200 direction Alexanderplatz.

In order to reach the next sightseeing-point, it is advisable to take the bus No. 100 or No. 200 towards Alexanderplatz. After leaving the bus at Schlossplatz, you see the former location of the Palast der Republik (Palace of the Republic). In the former DDR, it serves as the office for the Volkskammer (chamber of public). Today it is demolished due to intoxication with asbestos. In Autumn 2008 a Till then, however, a new art building, the Temporäre Kunsthalle, temporary art gallery, will present contemporary art. On the left side the Staatsratsgebäude (building of privy council) of the former DDR is situated, which fulfilled for some time the function of Federal Chancellery after the German Reunification. Today, the building is let for exhibitions, recitations or for other commercial reasons. The Rathausstraße leads directly to Berliner Rathaus (Berlin City Hall), the official seat of the mayor of Berlin. The building was constructed in the style of the north Italian High Renaissance. Because of its colour - and not of its policy, the imposing building is known colloquially as Rotes Rathaus or Red Town Hall.

Following Breite Straße you will reach on the bank of Spree the Haus der Deutschen Wirtschaft (House of German Economy). The Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) is situated not far from here at Werderscher Markt. The building has a changeful history. Today it is the Auswärtiges Amt (central office of German diplomacy) after being the former seat of the central bank of the 3rd Reich (Reichsbank), the ministry for finance of GDR, the central committee of SED and finally in 1990 Haus der Parlamentarier (House of the parliamentarians). The old building has been altered inside and at the same time a modern extension building has been designed on the open space next-door. A great opportunity for relaxing is the coffee shop affiliated to Auswärtiges Amt.

M48

Bus 100 from Spittelmarkt direction Zehlendorf to Wilhelmstraße. Driving time: approx. 5 min.

Our tour goes on from Spittelmarkt with bus No. M48 (direction to Zehlendorf) to Wilhelmstraße. Here the Bundesrat (Federal Council) is situated in a former Prussian manor house. The Bundesministerium der Finanzen (Federal Ministry for finance) has the domicile in the former Reichsluftministerium, a ministry of the 3rd Reich. On the other side of the street the pompous Martin-Gropius-Bau shows interesting temporary exhibitions of outstanding quality. Next to the msueum the Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (Federal Ministry for Economic cooperation and Development) is located. The exhibition Topographie des Terrors (Topography of terror) is placed on Prinz Albrecht Gelände in Niederkirchner Straße. It is the former location of the monitory and prosecutions instruments of the NS-regime. Vis-à-vis there is the Abgeordnetenhaus (assembly building of the Berliner parliament), where the Prussian Parliament held its first meeting in January 1899. Today there are also exhibitions of different political topics and guided tours.

The new Potsdamer Platz is located only a few metres away from here. For those who fancy a panorama over the whole government district can enjoy the view from the observation desk of the Kollhoff building. In order to visit the diplomatic quarter afterwards, you can take bus No. 200 (direction to station Zoologischer Garten).

200

Bus 200 direction Zoologischer Garten.

The six buildings of the Nordic Embassies complex are enclosed by a turquoise-patinated façade. Inside each of the buildings in designed in an individual architecture reflecting the country' s character. In the so-called Klingelhöfer-triangel (Klingelhöferdreieck) many new embassies are built. The Embassy of Mexiko is a fascinating example of contemporary architecture. Furthermore the Embassies of Austria, India, Greece, Estonia, Portugal, United Arab Emirates, Japan, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Malta and Luxembourg are located in the borough of Tiergarten. As the single nations are responsible in great parts alone for their constructional foreign representation, the architecture often reflects a piece of national individuality. Close to the foreign embassies, there are also several permanent representations of the Federal states.

The Bundesverteidigungsministerium (Federal Ministry for defence) is situated in the Bendlerblock on Stauffenbergstraße. Built as Reichsmarineamt (Reichs-department for marine) in times of German emperor Wilhelm II it was renamed in Reichskriegministerium (Reichs-ministry for war) in 1935. Next to the main-commandership of the forces (Oberkommando der Wehrmacht) the Bendlerblock has been as well the a headquarter of resistance against the National-socialism. A statue in the court of this building reminds of the four members of the resistance - Graf von Stauffenberg has been amongst them. They have been shot here after the missed assassination of Hitler on June, 20 in 1944.

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The new government district is also well seen from the waterside. There are landing stages for a boat trip on Spree at numerous points. Amongst other things you will have a worthwhile view on Bundesministerium des Innern (Federal ministry of the Interior) in Moabit that appears from the landside rather inconspicuous.

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Berlin offers as well different exhibitions and guided tours in interesting political buildings.

Exhibitions:
"Wege-Irrwege-Umwege. The development of the parliamentary democracy in Germany" Deutscher Dom am Gendarmenmarkt, Tue-Sun 10am-6am (May-September until 7pm), free guided tour at 11am, 1pm, 4pm)
www.bundestag.de
Exhibition of the Willy-Brandt-Stiftung: "Um die Freiheit kämpfen - Willy Brandt 1913-1992", Rathaus Schöneberg, Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat+Sun 10am-4pm (guided tour possible)
Ausstellung "Deutscher Widerstand" im Bendlerblock, Mon-Wed+Fri 9-18 h, Thu 9-20 h, Sat+Sun 10-18 h, guided tour possible. www.gdw-berlin.de

Guided Tours:
Reichstag: www.bundestag.de

Bundesministerien
Reichstag: www.bundestag.de
Many embassies offer guided tours after previous announcement

Further Federal ministries
Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend, Alexanderstraße 3,Mitte
Bundesministerium für Gesundheit, Friedrichstraße 108, Mitte
Bundesministerium der Justiz, Mohrenstraße 37, Mitte
Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Technologie, Scharnhorststraße 34-37, Mitte
Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Bau- und Stadtentwicklung, Invalidenstraße 44, Mitte
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Hannoversche Straße 28-30, Mitte
Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit, Alexanderstraße 3 Mitte
Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales, Wilhelmstraße 49, Mitte
Bundesministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz, Wilhelmstraße 54, Mitte

Parteizentralen/Bundesgeschäftsstellen:
Bündnis 90/Grüne, Platz vor dem Neuen Tor 1, Mitte
CDU-Parteizentrale, Klingelhöferstraße 8, Tiergarten
FDP-Parteizentrale, Reinhardtstraße, Mitte
DIE LINKE-Parteizentrale, Kleine Alexanderstraße 28, Mitte
SPD-Parteizentrale, Willy-Brandt-Haus, Wilhelmstraße 141, Kreuzberg

Further addresses:
Federal public relation office, Public relation office of German Government and seat of visitor-service, Dorotheenstraße 84, Mitte
Federal print office, oranienstraße 91, Kreuzberg

The Berlin Tourist Information is looking forward to your visit!

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