Fernsehturm

The Fernsehturm (Television Tower) is undoubtedly one of the greatest symbols of Berlin. Easily sighted from almost every corner of the city, the tower is awarded with the title of the highest building in Germany. Its history begins at the time the Wall still divided the city and is located on Alexanderplatz, one of the most important squares in Berlin.

Its construction began in 1965, designed by the architects Hermann Henselmann, Jörg Streitparth, Fritz Dieter, Günter Franke and Werner Ahrendt, and was completed in 1969. The Tower, whose function is to provide a broadcast signal, was used as a demonstration Of power and modernity by the government of the German Democratic Republic (GDR).

For decades, the Tower also served as a symbol for the socialism in the East German government. The sphere of the TV Tower was designed in metallic color to show similarity to the Sputnik satellite, thus representing the technological superiority of the socialist countries at that time. Nowadays, the tower is a unique landmark of the new Berlin, symbolizing the new center of a reunited Germany.

For those who like the heights, it is possible to go up the Tower that is 368 meters high, considered the fourth largest structure without supports in Europe. The visitor’s platform is at a height of about 204 meters, and the visibility can reach, on clear days, up to 42 kilometers. An exceptional panoramic view will bring you the right idea of the dimensions of the city. Te ascension takes 40 seconds with the help of either of the two elevators, since there is no option of stairs.

Fernsehturm has also a very particular rotating restaurant. The restaurant, which completes a turn once every twenty minutes, is just some meters above the visitors’ platform. No doubt, a spectacular experience! The prices are very reasonable, when you mind the splendid opportunity of being in a place with this.

The red and white antenna mast forms the final section of the TV Tower. The 118 meter high mast is easily hidden by the clouds and haze that persists in settling in Berlin between the months of October and March. More than 60 radio and television programs are broadcast by the Tower. A minority of radio programs are still transmitted by the analog method, while the other programs are already broadcast digitally.

A curious fact that involves the Tower is that when the sun shines on the stainless steel dome cover, a cross appears as a reflection. This effect, so far as is known, was neither predicted nor desired in the design of the structure. With this, the Berliners began to call the luminous cross of Die Rache des Papstes (in German: “the revenge of the Pope”), thus ironing the socialist government of the former East Germany, that officially promoted atheism and repressed the religious institutions of the country .

To get to the Tower, you can use the subway U-Bahn: lines U2, U5 and U8 at station S+U Alexanderplatz; train S-Bahn: lines S5, S7 and S75 at station S+U Alexanderplatz; and buses: lines 100, 200 and TXL, stop at S+U Alexanderplatz/Memhardstr.

The Tower is daily open to visit. Avoid queues and purchase your tickets in advance by clicking here.