Berlin Wall Cold War Sites — Central
Brandenburger Tor
The Brandenburg Gate became the main symbol of Berlin’s division. From 1961 to 1989, it stood inaccessible in the death strip, visible but unreachable from both sides. On 22 December 1989, the gate was reopened as over 100,000 people gathered to celebrate. Today it is the main site for reunification events.
More...Gleim-Tunnel
The Gleim-Tunnel is a 130-metre street tunnel built in 1905 beneath the railway tracks between Prenzlauer Berg and Wedding. During the Cold War, the Berlin Wall ran directly through its centre, sealing it shut for 29 years.
More...Hansa Studios
Hansa Studios, in the historic Meistersaal concert hall at Köthener Straße 38, stood right beside the Berlin Wall by Potsdamer Platz. Between 1976 and 1978 the building became the creative refuge of David Bowie and Iggy Pop: Bowie recorded much of “Heroes” (1977) here and produced Iggy Pop’s albums The Idiot and Lust for Life in the same rooms. The control room of the big studio looked out over the death strip, and the title track of “Heroes”, with its lovers kissing “by the Wall”, was inspired by that view. The 1910 hall is a protected monument and still works as a recording studio and event space today.
More...Internationales Pressezentrum
The GDR’s official press centre for foreign correspondents, where Günter Schabowski held his historic press conference on 9 November 1989. Asked when new travel regulations would take effect, he replied “sofort, unverzüglich” (immediately, without delay) — triggering the rush to the border crossings that brought down the Berlin Wall. The building on Mohrenstraße (renamed Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Straße in 2025) now belongs to the Federal Ministry of Justice; the original press room no longer exists, but an art installation marks the event.
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