Berlin FERNSEHTURM - TV TOWER

The tallest edifice one could come across in Germany is the Berliner Fernsehturm. The Berliner Fernsehturm is a television tower found in the middle of the city of Berlin. It is situated near Alexanderplatz and a section of the World Federation of Great Towers, WFGT. Between the years 1965 to 1969, the tower was built by the previous German Democratic Republic government, with its intention of making it as a symbol of Berlin until the present. The East German architects Werner Ahrendt, Fritz Dieter, and Gunter Franke were the ones in-charge of creating the structure. The TV Tower is 365 metres high, making it the tallest building one could ever find in the country of Germany. Rumor has it, that the height of the tower was planned on purpose so that children would be able to remember it easily. The person responsible for the plan was Walter Ulbricht, leader of the SED. Currently, the peak of the tower reached 368 metre. The structure could be seen all over the centre of Berlin as well as some housing areas of in the city.

During the year 1950, the GDR transmitter was erected as well as the construction of the tower in 1965 to 1969. Deliberately constructed as the tallest tower in Europe, the Berliner Fernsehturm is ranked second to Moscow’s own TV Tower. In the period of the separation of Germany, a detached TV broadcasting system was seen as a great need. Being erected right at the center of the city was part of the original idea of Ulbrich.

The TV Tower is made up of a 250 metre concrete duct including a white and red striped pole made of steel. In 1997, a 3 metre tilt was substituted. The sphere is composed of seven floors in its interior, which are amenable to all the people.  One hundred forty stainless steel fragments compose the exterior part of the sphere.

Another myth regarding the tower implies that even if it was constructed for the main purpose of technological progress, it was destined to a mocking outcome. In addition to that, the steel sphere located underneath the antenna created a reflection of a giant cross, which extremely humiliated the GDR authorities. The common joke stating that it was a way of God’s vengeance on the worldly socialist state for taking away the crucifixes from churches. This was not appreciated by the SED government.

In June 2006, during the World Cup Football Championship, the place was converted into one giant silver and magenta-coloured football. It then turned out to be the ideal symbol of the world football event. Through this event, the giant sphere attained its moment of glory.

A display centre and a restaurant building which contains the Neptune fountain surrounds the bottom of the tower. This was actually a present given to the Emperor from Berlin’s city.  The cascades are merely a depiction of the four German rivers, which are the Weichsel, Rhine, Oder, and Elbe.

The lift attains an altitude of 200 metre in 40 seconds. In addition to that, the observation deck is 203 metres in height while the Telecafe is at 207 metre. The Telecafe’s design consist of an outer ring of rotating tables that serves snacks, coffee, and meals at a very reasonable price, while revolving its axis every 30 minutes. The Berliner Fernsehturm is an exceptionally famous spot for tourists as well as the locals. In a year, more than a million visitors are welcomed in the place. A clear and bright sunny day is the perfect time to visit.