Berlin Now and Then-Part One: Unter den Linden

Around the middle of the 16th century the Elector/Prince of Brandenburg, Berlin at the time, had a horse path connecting his residence to his royal hunting grounds in what is today the Tiergarten (Animal Garden). Unter den Linden (Under the Limes) got its name in 1647 when Elector Frederick William lined the avenue with lime trees. Since then Unter den Linden has become one of Berlin’s greatest attractions. In the past it was home to a royal residence, military buildings and arsenals. Later large churches, opera houses, national libraries and a university were added. In more modern times, Unter den Linden was a government district, where you could find all of the most important embassies in the world. Today, the avenue, which runs on an east-west axis through the middle of the city starts at Alexanderplatz and goes all the way through to the Brandenburg Gate. Here you can find some of Germany’s most recognizable landmarks as well as enough History to fill many pages. Not surprisingly, during the Second World War, Unter der Linden was the spot for parades, demonstrations as well as the target of bombs and some of the fiercest fighting of the Battle for Berlin.

2 thoughts on “Berlin Now and Then-Part One: Unter den Linden

  1. I like the account of the preacher and the building he is now buried in. I showed my cousin some of the pictures. She studied in Spain and served in Hawaii. Her reply was “I don’t know how that could happen.”
    The Army patients I work on say they like Germany. The Air Force folks have told me Alaska is a good place to be stationed so long as you like the outdoors.

  2. Thanks for the comment. Not too sure what she meant by “how could that happen.” Either way Germany is great, and I gotta say that Berlin is, by far, the coolest-best city I have even lived in. Hands down, no contest.

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