Reichstag

The Reichstag on Republic Square: 140 Years of German History

The Reichstag stands on Republic Square, a few hundred meters from the Brandenburg Gate, and is easily accessible from the Spree promenade in the government district. Those standing in front of it first see the imposing sandstone facade with its corner towers; only when approaching does the glass dome become visible above the roof. The design was provided by Paul Wallot, who prevailed against nearly 200 competitors in 1882. The foundation stone was laid on June 9, 1884, and after about ten years of construction, the parliament convened for the first time in the new building on December 6, 1894. Over 32 million bricks and 30,000 cubic meters of sandstone were used, with construction costs amounting to 24 million Marks. The building measures approximately 138 meters in length and just under 100 meters in width. Since 1999, the German Bundestag has convened here again, which is why the Reichstag is not a museum, but a working building where political decisions are made week after week.

Norman Foster’s Glass Dome and the Free View over Berlin

The widely visible landmark of the building is the dome by British architect Sir Norman Foster, which has been on the roof since 1999. It rises 23.5 meters above the roof terrace, measures 40 meters in diameter, and consists of 800 tons of steel and about 3,000 square meters of glass. In its center hangs a light deflector with 360 individually aligned mirrors in 30 rows of twelve each, directing daylight into the plenary hall. Two opposing spiral ramps, each approximately 230 meters long, ascend at a constant eight percent and lead to an observation platform of about 200 square meters at a height of 40.7 meters. From there, the view extends over the Tiergarten, the Brandenburg Gate, and the roofs of the capital. The dome and roof terrace alone attract well over a million guests annually. For the tour, audioguides, a video guide in sign language, and a dome guide in twelve languages as well as in Easy Language are available; a dedicated visitor and information center is in planning. Admission is free, but requires prior registration, and a reservation is needed for the rooftop garden restaurant.