| Berlin is the capital city and a state of Germany. It is | | | | Bonn. Today, the Cold War and the iconic events of |
| the countries largest city in area and population and | | | | November 1989, which saw the Berlin Wall torn to |
| the second most populous city in the European Union. | | | | pieces by those whom it had oppressed for so long, |
| Berlin is located in eastern Germany, about 70 | | | | are starting to seem like a distant memory and all the |
| kilometres west of the border with Poland. The | | | | talk in Berlin is of the future. |
| landscape was shaped by ice sheets during the last | | | | A major tourist and shopping destination and is well |
| ice age. | | | | known for its diverse range of convention venues |
| Berlin is one of the most influential centres in | | | | and media outlets. It is home to some of the worlds |
| European politics, culture and science. The city serves | | | | most prominent universities, theatres and museums. |
| as an important junction of national and continental | | | | The rapidly changing metropolis at present enjoys an |
| transportation. | | | | international reputation for its festivals, vibrant |
| First documented in the 13th century, Berlin became | | | | nightlife, contemporary architecture, and arts. Being |
| the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia in 1701 and of | | | | home to people from over 180 nations, Berlin is a |
| the German Empire in 1871 and remained so during | | | | magnet for individuals who are attracted by its liberal |
| periods of Weimar Republic and Third Reich until 1945. | | | | lifestyle, urban eclecticism, and artistic freedom. |
| In times of division the German Democratic Republic | | | | Contrary to the usual cliches about Germany, Berlin is |
| claimed East Berlin as its capital, while West Berlin | | | | a city with a laid back attitude and some of the |
| was a democratic island surrounded by East | | | | liveliest nightlife in Europe. In Berlin today, there is |
| Germany. Following German reunification in 1990, | | | | everything from authentic beer halls and old Soviet |
| Berlin again became capital of Germany. | | | | era haunts right through to buzzing style bars and |
| After a fifty year lull, Berlin is back, back as the | | | | Latino nightclubs. |
| capital of a reunified Germany and back as one of | | | | The climate is equally eclectic, with hot summer days |
| Europes greatest cities. After World War II, Berlin | | | | giving way to occasionally freezing temperatures |
| was a crippled pawn, sandwiched between East and | | | | during the long grey winter. Todays experience is to |
| West, with a literal and metaphoric wall deeply | | | | laze through a summer day in the Tiergarten with the |
| dividing the two halves. The north eastern German | | | | rabble of construction just out of earshot, sipping on |
| city even suffered the ignominy of losing its capital | | | | a chilled Pilsner beer, while witnessing a city |
| status, as the West German government fled to | | | | reinventing itself as one of Europes finest capitals. |