WORLD TIME CLOCK - ALEXANDERPLATZ - BERLIN - GERMANY

The World Time Clock is seated here: Alexanderplatz is a large open square and public transport hub in central Berlin, near the Spree river and the Berliner Dom. Berliners often call it simply Alex.

Originally a cattle market, it was named in honour of a visit of the Russian Emperor Alexander I to Berlin on 25 October 1805. It gained a prominent role in the late 19th century with the construction of the station of the same name and a nearby public market, becoming a major commercial centre. Its heyday was in the 1920s, when together with Potsdamer Platz it was at the heart of Berlin's nightlife, inspiring the 1929 novel Berlin Alexanderplatz. (see 1920s Berlin)

The Alexanderplatz has been subject to redevelopment several times in its history, most recently during the 1960s, when it was enlarged as part of the German Democratic Republic's redevelopment of the city centre. It is surrounded by several notable structures including the Fernsehturm (TV Tower), the second tallest structure in Europe. Because of its high profile, many newcomers to Berlin mistake the nickname Alex and apply it to the Fernsehturm instead. The Alex also accommodates the Forum Hotel Berlin and the World Time Clock, a continually rotating installation that shows the time throughout the globe. Following German reunification the Alexanderplatz has undergone a gradual process of change with many of the surrounding buildings being renovated. Despite the construction of a tram line and the addition of some greenery it has retained its socialist character, including the much-graffitied Fountain of Friendship between Peoples (Brunnen der Völkerfreundschaft). In 1993 plans for a major redevelopment including the construction of several skyscrapers were published, but due to a lack of demand it is unlikely these will be constructed. However, beginning with the reconstruction of the department store Kaufhof in 2004, some buildings will be redesigned and new structures built on the square's south-eastern side.

Many historic buildings are located in the area around Alexanderplatz. The traditional seat of city government, the Rotes Rathaus, or Red City Hall, is located nearby, as is the former East German parliament building, the Palast der Republik, demolition of which began in February 2006.

Category:

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• clock
• watch
• big
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• sign
• berlin
• mitte
• city
• alex
• tv
• tower
• station
• railway
• many
• coutries
• symbol
• right
• time
• travel
• tourist

[mm73ffm]

Ugly? So 80ies? Hideous? YES, but the Alexanderplatz doesn't say it's beautiful. This place will never be beautiful. This is place with East-European and East-German history. Its face is very eastern. And just this is the character of this special place. The Alexanderplatz is not a beautiful and nice square of a romantic city of love and dreams. It's a part of Berlin. You have to know the history to understand that.

[joshekg]

you are a douche bag, probably have not left the shit little city you were born in.

[mariner225]

i was there in this year berlin so nice, germany was great. i need to go back to germany :) from malta..

[AchtWipfel]

Ein schöner film.

[MrKukenimunnen]

@mm73ffm And that´s, in my opinion, what makes Alexanderplatz beautiful. I love Berlin. I´ve only been there once, but I´m sure as hell coming back some day.

[enikkan]

IT SI TRUE alex platz is a plane place if you compare it with the beauty of west berlin. alex platz has the perosnality of OST Berlin, therefore take it or leave it. withind it's lack of explendor has it beauty.

[soutache]

Screw you dapraz1. You are an asshole! Berlin is a beautiful phoenix, with class, edge and a charm all it's own.

[yepman73]

You are my hero.

[dapraz1]

"douche bag" is so retro 80s. i have to start using that again! um, actually i've lived in NYC, paris,and presently in SF. been all over the world. went to the flohmarkt on the schumainkai in frankfurt last saturday. (stayed nearby at le meridien near Hauptbahnhof). spent a week in berlin one week after the wall came down. and you??!! clock is ugly. berlin is hideous. germans are tacky.

[dapraz1]

u know it's true. defensive much?