The Weidendammer Bridge is a 73-metre-long (240 ft) bridge where the Friedrichstraße crosses the Spree river in the central Mitte district of Berlin. It is notable for its ornate wrought iron railings, lanterns, and Imperial eagles. Palace of Tears, Checkpoint Charlie, former nightlife district, shopping - all this describes the Friedrichstrasse in Berlin. But also much more. Friedrichstraße is the north-south axis of Berlin and runs straight through Mitte and Kreuzberg. It is 3.5 km long and one of the main streets of the city. Today you can stroll and shop here. Visit the famous checkpoint Charlie or one of the many theaters. From the Amusement Mile to the shopping mile: History of Friedrichstrasse Friedrichstraße is after the Elector Friedrich III. named, who ruled here from 1688 to 1713. In his time, there are only fields, meadows and fields around the road - until the electoral properties are sold and the construction of the suburb of Berlin begins with regular roads. Until World War II, there are amusement palaces, theaters and the famous Varieté Winter Garden - Friedrichstraße is the notorious entertainment district of Berlin. After the partition of Berlin, the Berlin Wall also intersected Friedrichstrasse. Even today is located at this point - the former checkpoint "Checkpoint Charlie" - a replica border cottage that you can visit. A second border crossing is the station Friedrichstraße in GDR times. In the glass pavilion - called Tear Palace - there is an exhibition about the border crossing. Shopping in Friedrichstraße Due to construction projects after reunification, Friedrichstraße between Bahnhof Friedrichstraße and Checkpoint Charlie has become a popular shopping street. Today, there are numerous new buildings such as the Friedrichstadtpassagen with boutiques, offices and restaurants in the new design. In Quartier 207 you will find French fashion, lifestyle accessories and a delicatessen department with specialties from France in the Les Galeries Lafayette department store. The design by architect Jean Nouvel impresses with its transparent glass façade and tapering atrium. The adjacent Passage Quartier 206, where you can shop in the boutiques of the finest designers, is decorated in the extravagant Art Deco style. The former amusement mile can still be found north of the station Friedrichstraße, where the Friedrichstadt-Palast and the Admiralspalast continue to show variety shows and spectacular revues. Just a few minutes walk from here is the Berliner Ensemble - one of the most famous theaters in Germany and the former stage of Bertolt Brecht.
