Berlin TV Tower (Fernsehturm) – A famous Attraction
Berlin TV Tower (Fernsehturm)
Probably the most interesting tourism stories are those in which some architectural pieces changed its purpose and became must see attractions of the city or the country they’re situated in. Precisely that happened with the Berlin TV tower.
Little History of the Tv Tower in Berlin
The story about the tower starts in the early 50s, when the GDR was planning to build a facility that would serve for transmitting the television signal.
After discussing what’s the best position for building it, the TV tower owes its location to a fully independent planning initiative – that came after detonating the Berlin Palace, and wish for creating a new architectural icon for their new society.
After rejecting some other plans, the authorities decided to merge two of earlier initiatives and had an idea to make the television tower in Berlin Mitte and not the Berliner Sclossplatz, but right next to the Alexanderplatz.
In 1969, the TV tower was put into operation, and after reunification of Germany in 1990, it instantly became a symbol of Berlin as a whole and one of the most popular city’s attractions.
That popularity remains these days also. In fact, it attracts more than a million people per year and it’s equally attractive to foreign tourist and Berliners.
Is it a space rocket ?
Its unique architecture is what, besides the magnificent view, attracts the most.
Once you come closer to the building, it resembles a space rocket, and the original design came from the East Germany architect Hermann Henselmann.
He indeed had a vision to make a piece that should remind of the Soviet Sputnik satellite; colored in red – the color of socialism.
Construction gave some headaches to the engineers, especially with mounting the sphere in place at an altitude of 200 metres.
They finally resolved it with a decision on an univalve construction of a steel skeleton for the sphere.
That segment was prefabricated on the ground and hauled up by cranes – attached to the spherical platform which marks the end of the concrete shaft.
Then, it was suspended on tension ropes, making it appear to be floating.
The lifts, the top and the view
In 1996, getting on the top of the tower became quicker.
The lifts were replaced and since then it takes just 40 seconds.
Since we’re mentioning getting on the top, the most frequently asked question of visitors is about how much the wind is bringing the tower to vibrate.
And the answer is – barely noticeable, so if you’re planning to visit the TV tower, don’t worry.
This interesting architectural piece offers the most spectacular views of Berlin and its surroundings.
Landmarks such as the Brandenburg Gate, Olympiastadion and Charlottenburg Palace.
You can enjoy a lunch or dinner in the tower’s restaurant – it’s something you should definitely try!
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