Unter den Linden

This prestigious boulevard leads from the Schlossbrücke at the Museum Island to the Brandenburger Gate at the Pariser Platz.

King Friedrich Wilhelm, also known as The Great Elector, was dedicated to the development and beautification of Berlin during his reign in the mid-1600s. In order to spruce up the route from his castle home to the Tiergarten hunting ground, it is said that Friedrich ordered the planting of long rows of Linden trees, which would also serve to keep the route more shady and comfortable for his travels. That means his carriage ride would have him traveling “unter den linden”; literally, under the lindens.

Nearly a century later, Friedrich II expanded the boulevard by adding his collection of cultural buildings to the area, including the Berlin state opera house and the state library, making Unter den Linden larger and even more popular.

By the 19th century, it was one of the most visited streets in the city and served as a central gathering place for many Berlin citizens.
After the victory over Napoleon, the street was furnished with large, new buildings – including the neo-classical Neue Wache, which served as the guardhouse for the royal guards and is now the National Memorial to the Victims of War and Tyranny. It’s considered to be the finest masterpiece of German architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel. A plethora of statues standing in homage to the great generals of the German army were also erected along the street.

One statue still standing today is the impressive equestrian statue of Friedrich II. The massive bronze monument was created between 1839 and 1851 by Christian Daniel Rausch. After the war the statue relocated by the rulers of the GDR but now it has its place again at the center of Unter den Linden.

By the end of World War II, Unter den Linden was little more than rubble and the magnificent Linden trees were said to be cut down and used for firewood in the final days of the war.

In the 50s and 60s, new homes and buildings were erected along Unter den Linden in the Reconstructionist style that was typical of that era.

Today, you’ll still find a number of wonderful architectural sites along Unter den Linden, many of which have been renovated or restored over the years. They include the expansive Humboldt University, the Zeughaus (German Historical Museum), the Staatsoper, Altes Palais, Staatsbibliothek and the Schloßbrücke (Palace Bridge), at the far eastern end.