Gendarmenmarkt

Gendarmenmarkt occupies a square in the Mitte district widely regarded as Berlin's most architecturally harmonious, framed by three neoclassical buildings arranged symmetrically: the Konzerthaus concert hall at the center, home to the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, flanked by the near-identical Französischer Dom (French Cathedral), built for the city's Huguenot refugee community, and the Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral), which now houses a permanent exhibition on German parliamentary history. Visitors can climb the Französischer Dom's tower for a view over the square's domed rooftops, attend a concert at the Konzerthaus, or simply sit at one of the square's outdoor cafés admiring the symmetry of the three facades. A visit taking in the square and one tower climb takes 30 to 60 minutes; attending an evening concert extends the visit considerably. December transforms Gendarmenmarkt into the setting for one of Berlin's most atmospheric Christmas markets, with a covered ice rink and mulled-wine stalls filling the square, while summer brings open-air concerts and film screenings against the illuminated building facades. Evening, when floodlights pick out the columns and pediments of all three buildings, is the most photogenic time, and the square looks especially striking after a fresh snowfall in winter. Weekday visits outside the December market season are notably quieter than weekends.