subject: The Reichstag Building, Berlin [print this page] The Reichstag Building, Berlin The Reichstag Building, Berlin
The commanding building is situated close to the Brandenburg Gate and close to the Berlin Wall (before it was dismantled). Before the unification of the city it was located in West Berlin.
The name Reichstag derives from the Parliament of the German Empire, and the building has housed just that from its inauguration in 1894 until 1933, when it was severely damaged by fire, which was reputed to have been started by a Dutch community sympathiser. During the Nazi years the Reichstag meetings were held in the Kroll Opera House, and after the Second World War, the Reichstag building fell into disused and became dilapidated and run-down.
During the Cold War the Bundestag (Germany's Parliament) moved to Bonn, however, it was always the plan to move back to its beloved Reichstag building, and after the unification of the city, they did just that and returned to Berlin; the British architect Sir Norman Foster was commissioned to carry out the urgent renovation works and complete the vision to re-house the seat of the Bundestag in the Reichstag. The new design was completed with a magnificent glass dome over the plenary hall.
The Reichstag dome has become one of the most famous landmarks of Berlin, with its 360-degree view of the city; looking down into the interior, the main parliament floor can be seen from the cupola. Natural light from the dome illuminates the main hall, and the dome also has a sun shield, which tracks the movement of the sun and blocks the brightest light, which might blind those below.
There is an elevator, which takes you up to the roof where you can walk around the dome. It is advised to check beforehand before a visit, as sometimes it is necessary to book to travel up to the dome.
The Reichstag building is located in Platz der Republik, Tiergarten. The nearest subway station is Unter den Linden and Bundestag.
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