Berlin Germany – this city of splendid new architecture and grand cultural institutions has some big happenings going on for the spring and summer of 2012. The first is the opening, on June 3rd of the Brandenburg International Airport. At a cost of 2.5 billion euros Brandenburg is Berlin’s largest construction project since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Brandenburg will replace Berlin’s three other airports; Tempelhof, Tegel, and Schonefeld.
Brandenburg, 11 miles from Berlin, can be easily reached on the city’s excellent public transit system.
In September 2011 the Palace of Tears (Tranenpalast) re-opened after a complete restoration. It was built in 1962 at Friedrichstrabe station as the border crossing from the GDR to West Berlin. On permanent exhibit is “Border Experience. Everyday Life in Divided Germany.”
Berlin is home to 178 museums, one of its most beloved is Museum Berggruen which will be re-opening with a new wing in June 2012. The focal point of this will be the museum’s collections of 100 works by Pablo Picasso and 60 works by Paul Klee along with many works by Matisse and Giacometti.
Another happening is the 300th birthday of King Frederick the Great who established Prussia and the founding of Germany. Potsdam is a World Heritage Site with 12 stunning palaces one of which is Sanssouci, Frederick the Great’s famous summer palace. Potsdam, located 20-minutes from Berlin, will be holding celebrations throughout the year to mark Frederick’s tri-centennial.
Berlin’s new Culinary Arts Center is scheduled to open on February 9, 2012 in what was the Jewish Girls School (Judische Madchenschule). The walls of the former classrooms, hallways and gymnasium will be used as art space to display works by emerging artists. On the third floor the Michael Fuch’s gallery will display contemporary art by noted German artists. Three restaurants in the complex will offer choices of German and Kosher foods.
With 763 hotels offering an average rate of $95 US (76 euros) per night and the Berlin Welcome card that allows you free public transportation and free or discounted admission to over 200 venues Berlin is a city not to be missed this year.
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