The Reichstag Building
The Reichstag is a historical building in Berlin that houses the legislative government of Germany. The Reichstag is built with dark grey stone and Renaissance style architecture, making the building itself awe inspiring, but the most eye catching part of the building is a glass dome in the middle (which the Berliners have nicknamed the contact lens). We had the opportunity to go inside the Reichstag, and walk into the contact lens itself! Walking in, you are surrounded by glass from ceiling to floor. In the middle of the dome is a large cone of mirrors that reflect you and your surroundings. You can look down at the building below you, or if you’re feeling adventurous, you can climb up the spiral ramp that leads to the very top center of the dome. From here, you can look out over the beautiful city of Berlin.
The Reichstag building has a very interesting past and has served many purposes throughout its lifetime. It has been remodeled and rebuilt since its first construction in the late 1800s. When it was first constructed, the Reichstag was a parliament building where laws were passed and voted on. During the First World War, an inscription was added to this building that reads “To the German people.” The Reichstag was supposed to be a symbol of democracy and unity in Germany, and that is what it represents today, however during the Nazi regime, the Reichstag unfortunately represented the opposite. It was a sham parliament that Hitler used to further his regime of terror. The Reichstag was then severely damaged during WW2, and became an empty symbol. In 1955, they decided to rebuild it and it became a history museum, and then once again returned to being a legislative building for the people of Germany.
I think that the Reichstag building is such a good representation of Berlin and its history. Berlin has a very checkered past as we all know, and the Reichstag does too. However, both Berlin and the Reichstag have rebuilt themselves into something that stands against oppression and works for the people of Germany. In the Reichstag, the people can physically stand above the legislation, representing the democracy that Germany now has. It is saying that they are aware of the past and they are working towards a better future. This aligns with what Berlin is trying to do as a city and the culture that they are known for. Their culture is one of progress and overcoming their past without trying to erase it from history.
Oh Lilly dear, my last comment ever on your amazing blog. You amaze me every day and I will miss our comments and good laughs. The Reichstag is so important to the status of Berlin as a cultural capital, it is a great representation for the things they stand for, like you said. It shows their dedication for progress, while also remembering their past.
ReplyDeleteThis is SUCH a good post! I love how you touch on the fact that the history of Berlin is one that is very tumultuous and it is so cool that Berlin has stood up against this and has fully flipped what it is known for. Berlin now stands against oppression fully and constantly fights for a better future. This building stands for democracy and fully contributes to Berlin's status as a cultural capital.
ReplyDeleteI am going to miss commenting on your blogs SO MUCH. Mostly I will miss you so much, spending time with you has truly been such a pleasure. I totally agree with you that the Reichstag really encapsulates Berlin's history. Though it may be checkered, they are clearly pushing for positive change. That kind of dedication is what aids their cultural capital status!
ReplyDeleteI am going to miss your blog posts Lilly!!!! The Reichstag is an amazing building with so much rich history! I totally agree with you that it contributes to Berlin's history and it tells a story. The city withheld a lot, and this building also withheld a lot during WW2 and the divide of Berlin. It continued to be rebuilt again, and it is a great example of how Berlin is trying to rebuild themselves after the war as well.
ReplyDeleteI have loved reading your posts the last several weeks!!! And yes, as you noted, the Reichstag is significant due to its rich historical journey. Germany's history is complicated, and the Reichstag is a testament to that complexity. Along with that, this building reflects Germany's new direction toward democracy and the people.
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