Christopher Street Day Berlin 2011

June 26, 2011


More than half a million demonstrators and spectators were present at this years Parade. It was a diverse crowd: Men and women, gay and straight, young and old, from Berlin and all over the world.

The CSD Parade is a political demonstration. Every year there is a motto, and a list of demands for political changes that are necessary for the equality and acceptance of LGBT persons.

And of course it is also an opportunity to throw a big party down the streets of Berlin. There are dance beats, brilliant costumes, decorated floats, and the occasional naked upper body.

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Berlin Victory Column renovated

April 15, 2011

Last year, I mentioned that Berlin’s Siegessäule (Victory Column) is under construction. Now, the scaffold was removed and the golden Statue of Victoria again shines in all her glory in the middle of the Great Star.

During the refurbishment works, about 1200 gram of gold leaf were put on the bronze sculpture of Victoria, which is 8.3 meters high and weighs about 35 tons. If you want to pay her a visit, you have to climb 285 steps upstairs to reach the observation platform on top of the monument. There is no elevator but your effort will be rewarded with a great view on Berlin Tiergarten.

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Berlin Victory Column under construction

August 6, 2010

Due to restoration works, Berlin’s Victor Column (or Siegessäule) is completely scaffolded at the moment and will remain like this until Spring 2011. Only the golden statue of Victoria or Goldelse, like a Berliner would say, is visible.

The Victory Column stands at 61.5m high and provides excellent views of Berlin from the center of Tiergarten. The statue of the victory goddess Viktoria that stands on top of the Victory Column was created by F Drake and weighs an impressive 35 tonnes.

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Festival of Lights 2009, Berlin in a different Light

October 27, 2009

The fifth Festival of Lights has ended, during the last two weeks, you were able to see Berlin in a different light.

Since 2005, every year in October, Berlin turns into a sparkling metropolis,

about 5000 LED-lamps, 750 LED-spotlights and 900 Fluorescent lamps, were used this time to illuminate 59 world-famous historical landmarks and spots in Berlin,

for the biggest festival in the history of the Festival of Lights.

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Christopher Street Day in Berlin 2009

June 30, 2009

Last weekend, the Christopher Street Day has taken place in Berlin. The CSD is an annual festival held in various cities across Europe, comparable to the Gay Pride or Pride Parade in America. Over five thousand people demonstrated against the discrimination of gay and lesbian fellow citizen. From the Streets of the Kurfürstendamm to the feet of the Siegessäule (Berlin Victory Column).

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