In the middle ages the town of Bernau on the outskirts of Berlin was surrounded by a fortified…read moredefensive wall 8 meters high and 1.5 kilometers long. Built in the second half of the 15th century, the Steintor ("Stone Gate") is a perfect example of late Gothic brick architecture common in the areas formerly known as Prussia. Only one of the city's three elaborate gates has survived to this day. This picturesque city gate is made up of two towers: die Pulver- und Hungertürme ("the Gunpowder- and Hunger Towers").

The exhibition I've been to was "Berlin the city of women"…read more Since I've been there on the free admission day the museum itself was quite packed. The interior and curating reminded me a bit of the museum Berggruen with its wooden floors and small rooms. The exhibition was nicely explained by several signs so I always able to find further information. The displayed pieces were a mixture of historical photography and documents, videos, paintings and sculptures. The show was rather a historical one than a art focused one but I enjoyed it a lot. The only thing I didn't like was the lack of kindness by the one staff (I supposed a supervisor) at the museum. While my friend and I were forced in a rude manner to leave all our bags at the cloakroom we saw many visitors upstairs carrying around their big handbags. There were wooden boxes for measurement at the cloakroom to see if the bags were small enough. Both bags fit in but that man didn't care. I think rules should apply to all and not only to selected ones.

Very disappointed! When travelling, I prefer to go native and try local, traditional food…read more Food ok - 6/10; service 1/10; ambience/ atmosphere 2/10. Waitress more interested in giggling in kitchen with chef. Insult added to injury when unfriendly waitress tried to overcharge by short-changing me by €10 on €50 tendered for €22 bill. Rapidly repaid when challenged. Can not recommend this restaurant at all. Recommendation - avoid at all costs!

Took an English guided tour. Note that tickets are cash only and the tour is 2 hours…read more The tour was thorough and very informative. Our tour guide gave us a realistic sense of what it was like to be taken to this prison, as well as what life was like as a prisoner. We got to see and be inside of cells as well as interrogation rooms. Overall, the visit was worth the time and money. Would recommend this to family and friends visiting Berlin.

Hohenschönhausen used to not even be marked on maps - it was that secret. Today you can take guided…read moretours around the eerie buildings. Still and quiet except for the various groups, it all comes to chilling life when tales of it's history are recited. It is the background to the confession scenes in the film The Lives of Others. The idea of it alone is terrifying. And yet there we stood, on a fairly sunny day, listening to a young American woman tell us about the atrocities that occurred here. The place is now a museum and memorial located in Berlin's north-eastern Lichtenberg district. It was opened in 1994 on the site of the main prison of the former East German Communist Ministry of State Security, better known as the Stasi. The memorial was founded in the early 1990s by former inmates. We heard that former prisoners occasionally give the tours. We were on the English tour and a young American woman gave our tour and was a wealth of information. Highly recommend this historic site.

This venue is free, and very interesting. The architecture is beautiful and there is a huge…read morecircular stairway in the center. There is a lot of material about the history of government and democracy in Germany. Interesting pictures and movies of parliamentary presentations including by Hitler.