Pariser Platz – the gateway to history

Such is the multitude of sights and sounds to be found in Berlin, it can be difficult to know where to start on your journey of German discovery. However, those who have done their homework will know exactly how to hit the ground running.

Pariser Platz – or Paris Square – is the perfect place to begin your sight-seeing in Berlin. Not only is it laden with icons from the city’s history, but it is also a cultural and international hub.

Guarding the square is one of Germany’s greatest monuments, the Brandenburg gate, whose neoclassical columns stand like giant soldiers barricading the way in. The landmark was built in the late 18th century and has stood firm through the tremors of the nation’s modern history.

While it is the most symbolic of the architectural features here, the gate is not the only attraction. In a similar fashion is the Palais am Pariser Platz, while more modern but equally impressive buildings can be found in the form of the DZ Bank and the Eugen-Gutmann Haus.

With the Academy of the Arts nearby and the US and French embassies, Pariser Platz is nothing if not rich in culture, international flavour and not a little historical magnificence. Where better to start your Berlin break?

For a map with directions to the South Bank