Reichstag

Reichstag (Reichstagsgebäude) General information: A historic building in the center of Berlin, on Republic Square. Since 1999, it has been the official seat of the Bundestag - the parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany. The famous inscription “Dem Deutschen Volke” (“To the German People”) is carved on the pediment of the building. Key stages of history: 1894: Construction of the building designed by architect Paul Wallot is completed. 1933: The famous Reichstag fire, which became the pretext for the Nazis to abolish civil liberties and establish a dictatorship. World War II: The building suffered colossal damage, and after the war and the division of Germany, it fell into disrepair near the Berlin Wall. 1990s: After German reunification, large-scale reconstruction began under the direction of British architect Lord Norman Foster. Architecture and Glass Dome: The building's main modern attraction is the stunning glass dome (Kuppel), designed by Norman Foster. Dome symbolizes the transparency and openness of German democracy (“the people are above the heads of politicians”). Inside the dome there is a spiral ramp, along which you can climb to an observation deck with panoramic views of Berlin. At the center of the dome is a giant mirror cone (360 "light detectors") that reflects natural sunlight directly into the parliament chamber. Interesting facts: In 1995, the building was completely “packed” in silver fabric by famous artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude. This event attracted millions of tourists and became one of the most famous art projects of the 20th century. In the basements of the building, inscriptions left by Soviet soldiers after the capture of Berlin in 1945 are still preserved. For visitors: Entrance to the building and the dome is free, but for security reasons, mandatory pre-registration on the official Bundestag website is required (often several weeks before the visit). A free audio guide is available at the top, including number in Russian.