POTSDAMER PLATZ

Before the Second World War, this square was one of the centres of intellectual and social Berlin, but events and history have reduced it to nothing. The division of the city and the construction of the Wall hindered its renewal for decades, until the border fell. Indeed, the square was located right on the dividing line between East and West Berlin, in a no-man's-land designed to discourage even the most reckless escapees. Moreover, a few pieces of the Wall, covered with chewing gum, are still in the square. In 1989, this strip of land between the two walls was immediately taken in hand, the aim being to make this sad scar disappear. Renowned architects such as Renzo Piano, Hans Kohlhoff and Christoph Kohlbecker are among those involved in the major reconstruction project. With subsidies from Sony and Daimler, a surrealist city has emerged from the 68,000 square metres of land, all in a new material specially designed for the square, in copper shades, and the buildings follow one another in breathtaking perspectives. It's like Gotham City, so much so that everything seems to come straight out of an illustrator's imagination. Around the centre of the square, which is home to numerous shops in shopping malls and numerous restaurants and bars, are the most impressive buildings in the city: the Sony Center (which is reminiscent of Mount Fuji and changes colours at night), the towers of the Deutsche Bahn and the Kohlhoff Tower, from which one can enjoy a paying but breathtaking panorama. Also have fun finding the few pre-war remains (including parts of the Esplanade Hotel) that have been preserved and integrated into the modern buildings.

What was the largest construction site in Europe and the world is now finished, and the result is breathtaking. It is a place of great photogenicity; unfortunately, the area is completely sanitized ... As a business and tourist district, the Postdamer Platz has been covered with shopping malls with no cachet and it is not easy to find good addresses here. However, you should know that the district comes to life in February with the Berlinale film festival, and that if you come here at that time you might see the red carpet and maybe even some international stars. Also come at night to enjoy the lighting, especially the changing colours under the roof of the Sony Center.