Gendarmenmarkt

You are now on the Gendarmenmarkt, which in English translates to the Men-at-arms Market Square. Grand and harmonious, it is often described as the capital’s most beautiful square. Some even call it the most beautiful square north of the Alps. How could it not be, with the magnificent Konzerthaus standing proudly at the center, surrounded by two churches, as baroque as they are identical, that perfectly reflect each other across the square? What was once just a simple market square outside of Berlin’s walls was redesigned in 1688 as part of the new town of Friedrichstadt’s development. Named in honor of Frederick I of Prussia, this independent extension of the historic center was later incorporated into Greater Berlin during the administrative reorganization that established the city’s districts after unification. The square’s current name originates from the beginning of the 18th century, after a cuirassier regiment of the “gendarmen” was stationed right here. In 1774, when the regiment left , Frederick the Great decided to embellish the square, while keeping its original name. He had the stables taken down and the small theater of the Comédie Française built there instead. Although this may seem surprising, the king also had an Italian-style opera house built not long before this, and wanted to provide a permanent workplace for the French court actors. Plays were performed here in French, a language commonly spoken by the German nobility. However, a few years later, this comedy house stopped being used, and the king commissioned Carl Gotthard Langhans—the same architect who designed the Brandenburg Gate—to build a National Theatre for Germany. There is no use trying to find it, as it was destroyed by a fire in 1817. All that survived were six ionic columns, which found new life in the construction of the current Konzerthaus. The imposing neoclassical temple you see before you dates all the way back to 1821. It is architect Karl Schinkel’s ultimate masterpiece. Taking huge inspiration from Ancient Greece, the building is crowned with a statue of Apollo and his chariot. The grand staircase leading to the entrance was used by the general public. If you move to look at the sides, you will see a passage through which aristocrat’s carriages once passed, allowing them to be dropped off in front of a VIP entrance. That is the way you’ll need to go if you want to access the entrance hall, which you can visit without having to buy a ticket for a performance. Struck by a barrage of bombs during the final battles that ended the war, the ruined site became the setting for a powerful image: that of the legendary Alexandrov Ensemble who gathered here in 1948 amid the rubble, before a vast crowd. During a concert for peace, the Red Army Choir performed Russian and German folk songs in spirit of hope and solidarity. Today, the Konzerthaus in Berlin is home to the Konezrthaus- Orchestra. In the summer, the orchestra even plays on the steps outside—who knows, you might just be lucky enough to hear them! And just in case you were wondering, at the center of the square, you can meet the poet and playwright Friedrich Schiller. If his name is unfamiliar to you, know that he is a cornerstone of German literary heritage. Influenced by Rousseau, he is famous for his plays and for his friendship with Goethe. One of his literary works includes the story of William Tell. On that cultural note, feel free to move towards the church to your left.