Have you ever wondered why Berlin looks the way it does? Why is there a “Neukölln” and where is the old one?

Our Geography course has been discussing the development of cities in Germany and Europe since the beginning of the school year. We took a closer look at an example of one of Germany’s oldest cities – Cologne – and how it changed over the centuries.

Inspired by that knowledge, our class decided to discover Berlin and its urban development on a field trip. On September 21, 2022, we gathered at the S-Station Tegel with Mr. Dahm, our Geography teacher, and from there we went on our way to the city center.

Brandeburg Gate, Friedrichstraße and much more

Our first stop was the Brandenburg Gate, one of Berlin’s best-known sights, which also plays a key role in the history of Berlins’ development. From there we walked over to the “Friedrichstraße”, which was undergoing change, as it acted as a car-free zone project in Berlin’s city center at that time.

From there on, over the course of another 13 stops, each student presented information about remarkable urban places in Berlin. Not only could we enjoy the view but also learn a lot about the city we live in, and its change in urban features, for example, the “Alexander Platz” which has a unique style of buildings.

Our trip ended at the S-Station of “Greifswalder Straße”. One of Berlin’s main train stations for the “S-Bahn” which was built in 1875.

In conclusion, the field trip was very informative as we learned a lot about Berlin not only on paper, but we were also able to experience the changes on-site. We strongly recommend such an experience – especially on foot – for anyone interested in Berlin’s urban development.

                                                                                   Florentine & Mr. Dahm