Berlin day tour: Lustgarten (Pleasure Garden)

Continued from Berlin day tour: Museumsinsel (Museum Island)

The Museumsinsel (Museum Island) in Berlin is not all about museums actually. Visitors will be greeted by two famous landmarks, the Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral) and the Lustgarten (Pleasure Park), before they can reach the Altes Museum (Old Museum).

The Lustgarten as seen from the Berliner Dom entrance.

The Lustgarten is a notable spot in Berlin’s history and went through interesting developments. Originally a kitchen garden to the palace, it was then developed into a landscaped garden with fountains. During the time of King Friedrich Wilhelm I, it was converted into a parade ground. Aside from being a public park, the Lustgarten was also used for public rallies and political demonstrations. For instance, Hitler used to hold mass rallies in this site.

This is the fountain at the center of Lustgarten where an equestrian statue of Friedrich Wilhelm III used to be.

Today, the Lustgarten is a simple park with a fountain at the center where visitors and tourists going to and from the museums rest for awhile. It is also a good place to get great views of the facades of the Altes Museum and the Berliner Dom.

Tourists at the Lustgarten with the façade of the Berliner Dom in the background

Next stop: Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral)