Berlin's Town Squares

Known to locals as Alex, Alexanderplatz was once a major transportation hub of Eastern Berlin, as well as a prominent shopping district. Even today, half a million people transfer through Alex daily. Located nearby, the Fernsehturm figures prominently in the view from the plaza. Today, one prominent and unique feature of Alex is the Weltzeituhr, or World Clock. This structure displays the time in all time zones in the world. The modern plaza is known for its less-than stellar design elements, and plans for a redesign are in the works. During the 1920s, both Alexanderplatz and Postdamer Platz were central to Berlin’s night life. In fact, during that time Potsdamer Platz was the liveliest square in Europe, featuring cinemas, bars and cafes. The platz was destroyed during the war, and was only rebuilt during the reunification of the 1990s. Today, between seventy and one hundred thousand visitors see Potsdamer Platz daily, despite the fact there is much local controversy over how the plaza was rebuilt. The Pariser Platz can be found near the Brandenburg Gate, and at the end of the famous Unter den Linden boulevard. Pariser Platz is a central point in Berlin, and many important buildings and foreign embassies are found on or near the square. A city’s plazas are considered its meeting places, and visitors to Berlin will find that this European city’s are no exception.