which is situated near Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag. Because of its outstanding height of 370 m it is visible to the naked eye from a far distance. An elevator brings you to the rotating restaurant bowl. There from you can enjoy a wonderful and unique panoramic view over Berlin.
Actually the Alexanderplatz was already known as a famous market before the Television Tower was built. One of the reasons for this publicity is Alfred Doeblins bestseller book "Berlin Alexanderplatz" - the most distinguished novel about a metropolis. In 1929 the author describes in his act the metropolis of the Weimarer Republic as a pandemonium of street canyons, gin palaces, crowds, delinquency, prostitution and iridescent roadside billboards.
At that time the "Alex" represented the central square of Berlin. Today more presentable places like the Potsdamer Platz with its prominent skyline mulcted the "Alex" of its significance.
Even if the "Alex" makes an exhausting attempt to improve its attractiveness with the help
of shopping centres like "Galeria Kaufhof" or the "Alexia", some other sights will attract your attention.
For example the World Clock is here located. The ceremonial induction was in 1969. Since that time it is a popular meeting place for Berlins townsfolk. The World Clock is about ten meters high and its weight constitutes 16 tonnes. An interesting fact is its construction of a 24 cornered prism. Each side is related to one of the 24 world wide time zones. Inside the clock a rotating cylinder affords to read the time for each time zone. A special detail is the simplified description of our planetary system and it orbits, which centres on itself each minute. Some years after the Berlin Wall fall down an extensive restoration of the clock was finished. At least the cost adds up to an amount of 350.000 Deutsche Mark. During the restoration some significant mistakes were corrected, because some towns have been located at the wrong time zone. Furthermore twenty new cities were added to the clock. At least the engine, which makes sure that the planets will continue to rotate, is still a GDR - original.
Another monument is the fountain called "Friendship of the Nations". It was built around the same time like the World Clock. From the top of the fountain in 6,2 m height, the water flows spirally onto 17 bowls into an huge basin with a diameter of 23 meters. It consists of copper, glass and ceramic. The fountain was constructed in a typical GDR - design. Because of its glittering enamel ornaments, Berlins citizens gave it the funny nickname "Bitch Brooch".
Since April 2007 the fountain got an under water illuminating. Former Berlin was short of money and wasn't able to pay for the routine maintenance. By the way the name "Alex" achieved the market not till Tsar Alexander I. visited it in 1805. Originally this place was used as a cattle market, later also a wool market and a parade - ground were added. Not until the 19th century the Alexanderplatz developed from a market place to a central traffic junction, first notably since in 1882 the long distance railway station of Berlin was opened. From that point the name "Alex" was the synonym for a busy major city living.
This status wants the market to achieve again in the future, because Berlin has different ideas for realizing this. Due here should arise Berlins Manhattan. But the first design concepts of the architects Hans Kollhof and Helmut Timmermann were already published in 1993, but till today no structural alteration began.
In the rough thirteen 150 m skyscrapers were planned. After some modifications only ten left over. But till this project will be implemented, the Television Tower will be the highest building at the "Alex". Even if the skyscrapers will be built, the Television Tower with its 370 m would overtop the high rise buildings twice. Sure is: The best view over Berlins wonderful skyline you have only in the tower. A few steps from here Berlins Nikolaiviertel is located. Text: A.K. / Übers. C.D.
