Germany Guide
Berlin
The Spreeinsel
At its eastern end, Unter den Linden leads to the Spreeinsel, the island in the middle of the River Spree that formed the core of the medieval twin towns of Berlin-Cölln. From the fifteenth century onwards, by virtue of its defensive position, it became the site of the Hohenzollern Residenz – the fortress-cum-palace of the family who controlled Berlin and Brandenburg. Originally this was a martial, fortified affair, as much for protection from the perennially rebellious Berliners as from outside enemies, but over the years domestic stability meant that the Residenz could be transformed into a Renaissance palace. Later it received a Baroque restyling, with virtually every local architect of note, including Schlüter, Schinkel and Schadow, contributing.
At the northern tip of the Spreeinsel – beyond a parade ground that has long since become an area of lawns known as the Lustgarden – lies a museum quarter known as Museumsinsel (Museum Island). This was added during the nineteenth century by the Hohenzollerns and really took off when German explorers and archeologists began returning with loot from sites in the Middle East so that, despite war losses and Soviet looting, some of the world's finest museums reside here. The building work here is part of a large-scale reorganization and remodelling due for completion in 2015; in the meantime, the closure of some sections and their reshuffling as collections move between buildings will make parts temporarily inaccessible.