How Germany will commemorate those heady days of 1989, when the Berlin Wall came down
THE German National Tourist Board has set as its theme this year: the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The effect of this historic event on tourism is clearly evident from the statistics: since 1989 the new federal states in eastern Germany have seen buoyant development, becoming real highlights of the travel destination Germany. Together, the eastern states now generate around 20 per cent of inbound tourism to Germany.
BERLIN
Berlin alone has seen its overnight stays (including camping) by foreign visitors increase from 1.9 million in 1993 to over seven million at present.
The old dividing line itself – stretches of which can be explored on the Berlin Wall Trail – has also become a tourist attraction for many visitors. The Berlin Wall Trail takes visitors around the former enclave city for approximately 160 kms, is well signposted and has information points and maps at regular intervals to aid navigation. Areas of historical interest, where fragments of the wall remain or its route can be traced, are interspersed with stretches of beautiful scenery.
Other tourism highlights include the first GPS led tour along the route of the Berlin Wall. Available from Discovery Tours, the “MauerGuide” makes it much easier to follow the path. At five key locations along the wall, including a total of 22 memorial sites, and using 105 commentaries, a state-of-the-art gadget tells the story of the divided city in German and English, using authentic photos, footage and audio recordings.
In 2009, Berlin, its residents and visitors to the city will commemorate the events of 1989 and 1990 with an extensive cultural programme, including an open air exhibition on Alexanderplatz square that continues until November 9. At the same time another exhibition charting the urban development of the new Berlin will be on display at various locations around the city. On November 9, the date the Berlin Wall fell, the story of this historic event will be symbolically re-enacted and celebrated with concerts and a street festival.
POTSDAM
Potsdam also played an important role in the history of the two Germanys: Cecilienhof House, where the Potsdam Conference took place in 1945, is now open to the public, as is the formerly inaccessible Glienicke Bridge between Berlin and Potsdam, where the Cold War powers used to exchange captured spies.
It is also the starting point for the group guided tour entitled Border trails amid World Cultural Heritage, organised by the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation, Berlin/Brandenburg, which is available until the end of November.
LEIPZIG
Since 2007, Leipzig has held the annual Night of the Candles on October 9 to commemorate the pivotal event of the peaceful revolution. To mark its anniversary, Leipzig will stage a festival of lights on October 9 this year modelled on the famous Fête des Lumières in Lyon.
Until December 2009, a special exhibition entitled ‘Leipzig on the path to the peaceful revolution’ will be on display in the Runde Ecke museum, which is located in the building that housed the Leipzig branch of the Ministry for State Security for 40 years. Here, visitors can learn all about the infamous East German secret police and their function, methods and history. Inclusive deals can be booked at the Leipzig Tourism Office.
THE GREEN RIBBON
Germany’s longest continuous system of rare biotopes developed in the shadow of the border between east and west. In the 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, this 1,393 km ‘green ribbon’ has been transformed into a freely accessible holiday region. A wide range of walking trails, cycle routes and waterways allows active holidaymakers to enjoy the diverse natural scenery with its very special flora and fauna.
by Clark Kelly