Destinations / The best places to visit in Berlin, Germany / Reichstag

 

  After founding the German Empire in 1872, came a need for a bigger Parliament building in Berlin. Had to pass another 10 years before it could reach agreement on the project. The competition was organized and the 183 participants, the project Wallot Paul was elected. German architect has created an imposing neo-Renaissance building, 137 meters long with a width of 97 meters.

 

  The building was built between 1884 and 1894, was funded mainly with money from France, obtained after the war won by Prussia in 1871. Inscription "Dem Deutschen Volk" (for German people) was added later in 1916 by Emperor Wilhelm II. Points were made from bronze cannons captured from the French.

 

  In 1933 a fire broke out inside the building, destroying much of the Reichstag. Today it is still unclear who has been on fire but blame the communists. This event brought a party that Hitler came to power shortly after that. The building suffered even more damage to the end of the war, when Soviet troops entered Berlin. Picture of a Red Army soldier raising the Soviet flag on the Reichstag is a one of the most famous images of the 20th century and symbolizes the defeat of Nazi Germany.

 

  After the war, the Reichstag has arrived in West Berlin, near the Berlin Wall. It was rebuilt between 1958 and 1972 but the central dome and most of the ornaments have been removed. At the time Germany was divided, the West German Parliament gathered here once a year as a way to show that Bonn is only a temporary capital. After unification, decided almost immediately move Bundestag from Bonn to Berlin. Reassignment decision was therefore a new renovation of the building which was started in 1995 and was completed in 1999.

 

  After a draft of Sir Norman Foster was added to a glass dome over the plenary hall. Although at first it was the subject of controversy, the dome has become one of the most representative images of the city. Since April 1999, the Reichstag is again host to the Bundestag. Part of the Reichstag building is open. A lift takes tourists on the roof of the building where they can climb even the dome with a spiral staircase.

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