Tiergarten: the Central Park
When you are in Berlin, you must not miss visiting Tiergarten which is a district in Berlin, Germany. The place has many things to uncover, but the most exotic and royal is the inner city park also known as Tiergarten. The area covered by the park is vast, and it is the third largest park in Germany after Tempelhofer Park and Englischer Garten, situated in Munich. The area of the park is 210 hectares which is almost 520 acres.
The park is expansive and beautiful in its own way. It is perfect for a stroll, outdoor get-together or picnic, in short, it is an ideal leisure spot. Its popularity is established by the fact that it is the most frequented park of Berlin. It is equally popular with the locals as well as tourists.
Location
Tiergarten is situated in a locality also known as Tiergarten within the borough in Mitte in central Berlin, Germany.
Weather
The best months to visit Tiergarten is August and September, the average temperature during these months is nearly 12-14 degree Celsius. The average temperature in July is around 18-degree Celsius, which makes it the hottest month of the year, whereas January is the coldest with an average temperature of – 1-degree celsius. Snowfall is usual in January and February. With 71mm of average rain, June is the wettest month.
History
Before Frederick I ( 1688- 1740), the first Prussian king, Tiergarten was used as a hunting ground by the electors of Brandenburg around 1527 A.D. Back then it was famous for hunting deer and other wild animals. The animals were specially placed in the garden and the area was fenced so that fleeing became impossible for animals. When Frederick I came to power he opened the park for the General Public. For easy access roads and streets were built. During Fredrick I’s reign DerGroBe Stern, Kurfurstenplatz, and seven boulevards were added to Tiergarten.
Fredrick I’s son Fredrick II opened the parks’ first public Garden in 1740. Georg Wenzeslaus von Knodelsdroff, a popular architect of that time, was instructed to remove the fence in 1742 and turn it into a pleasure Garden or Lustgarten. According to Fredrick II, the fence was not required any longer as the park was not a hunting ground but a leisure spot. In 1884, the Berlin zoo was constructed, it was like a man-made home to many natural animals.
During the Nazis, Adolf Hitler did not only change the demography and cultural thinking of Germany but all the things which reminded people of the past era. Hitler wanted Berlin to be the main city of the world and Tiergarten to be the center of Berlin. Hence the 17th June Street was built. However, during World War II, the park was demolished. Unfortunately, many years after the war was over the park was not restored and was damaged further. Due to the cold weather many locals cut down trees to heat their home, eventually, the animals also perished and Tiergarten lost its old glory and beauty.
As time flew by the restoration work was undertaken by the local governing bodies. To give Tiergarten its old beauty plants were replaced, the broken paths were mended, and more dimensions were added. Today the park is popular for a light stroll, jogging, and even cycling. Now it is common to see locals as well as tourists grilling their food in the park.
The Park:
The park is situated in Berlin; the river Spree flows on the Northern side of the park. The park is easily accessible via a rental pedal taxi; there is much attraction in the park which makes the visit to the Tiergarten more and more alluring. The principal road of the park is 17th June Street constructed during Nazi regime. The greenery present around the garden gives the place a fresh life whereas the memorials and the statue provide knowledge about the important historical events of the country. The Tiergarten is a perfect mix and match of new and old. The confluence of new and old takes you on a time travel, and this is the most extraordinary thing about the park.
While walking through the park, you are able to see how Germany has come out strong out of all the unfortunate events that took place. The park carries the knowledge and wisdom of an old man, but the vigor of the young, and that is why tourists can see the place buzzing with people. The park has maps at many places which assure that tourists are not lost. The park has many cafés too, to satisfy the taste buds of tourists as well as locals. You can even grill and barbecue your eatable if you are here for more time.
Traveling and Exploration
As the garden is vast, it can be explored in chunks. You can see a certain section of the garden on foot. If you want to see the lake, then rowing is better than walking around the lake. Exploration of Tiergarten completely may not be possible in a day on foot. Hence pedal taxis are available for rent.
Why Visit
Tiergarten has something for everyone, if you want to bask in the sun, you can come here, if you want to stroll or walk or cycle you can come here, if you want to explore the flora and fauna you can come here, if you love history you can come here. It is a complete package. The statues present in the garden remind people about the history associated with them. If you are a tourist, then the place has a lot to offer, apart from seeing the famous statues and memorial you can row a boat in the lake present in the park. The wind cascading the blades of the grass will definitely make you happy. If you are with your family, you can plan for a picnic. The list is endless, as said earlier, there is something for everyone. Moreover, if you are in Berlin, you should not miss visiting Tiergarten. Tiergarten is a paradise for people who love history. The memorials built here will take you on a time travel. The aura of Tiergarten is such that it will make you fall in love with the majestic place. For people who have a never-ending wanderlust, this place is nothing less than an oasis in a desert. If LGBT community interests you, then you should see the memorial which is dedicated to the homosexual’s that were killed during the Nationalist Social Regime.
Major Attractions:
*The Zoo: Apart from all the greenery you can look at the animals for free and enjoy their antics. The zoo present in the Tiergarten is a major attraction for kids.
* Statues are spread across the garden, the ‘buffalo hunt’ statue is reminiscent of the hunts that took place earlier.
* Victory Memorial is present on the 17th June street. The wide street bisects the Tiergarten.
* Bismarck Memorial near Victory Memorial is dedicated to Otto von Bismarck, who unified the German Empire. It was built by Begas in 1901.
* Soviet War Memorial is dedicated to the soldiers who were deceased in the battle of Berlin. This memorial is located to the east of Victoria Memorial.
* Bellevue Palace is the official residence, of the President in Berlin. It was built in 1786 for the Prussian Prince August Ferdinand. It is also known as Schloss of Bellevue.
* The tanks and cannons present near the Soviet war memorial.
* Ice- skating is the most loved activity in winters. Lakes freeze up in winters providing an opportunity for ice- skating.
* Karl Liebknecht was murdered in the Tiergarten. His memorial is a major tourist attraction site.
* There is a section in the park which is devoted to Freikörperkultur, it is a community which practices free body culture.
* The park has a diverse landscape. It has meadows, lakes, pathways, avenues, etc.
*Beethoven-Haydn-Mozart Memorial was built to commemorate the life of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. It was damaged during the second World War. The restoration began around 2000.
* Memorial of Sinti and Roma of Europe, dedicated to Gypsies, who died during the Second World War.
* Memorial dedicated to homosexual’s persecuted under Nationalist Social Regime. The memorial looks like a cube, and it has a window. There is a film of two men kissing inside the cube which is visible through the window.
What else is around?
There are museums around the Tiergarten:
- Kaiser Wilhelm GedächtnisKirche
- Bauhaus-Archiv Museum fürGestaltung
- Käthe-Kollwitz-Museum Berlin
- Pergamon Museum
- Brandenburg Gate
* Kaufhaus des Westens is one of the best departments stores in Berlin. It is also known as KaDaWein short.
* Marlene Dietrich Platz
* Jewish Museum Berlin
So go ahead and visit this amazing place with your family and friends. With lots to explore and roam around, this tourist hotspot would keep you enthralled at all times. A highly recommended place, you won’t regret visiting it!