Berlin

Berlin has recast itself as the Continent's capital of cool

The reunited city of Berlin is once again the capital of Germany. Berlin was almost bombed out of existence during World War II; its streets reduced to piles of rubble, its parks to muddy swampland. But the optimistic spirit and strength of will of Berliners enabled them to survive not only the wartime destruction of their city, but also its postwar division, symbolized by the Berlin Wall.

Today, structures of steel and glass tower over streets where before only piles of rubble lay, and parks and gardens are again lush. Nonetheless, even in the daily whirl of working, shopping, and dining along the Ku'Damm, Berliners encounter reminders of less happy days: At the end of the street stands the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, with only the shell of the old neo-Romanesque bell tower remaining. During the Cold War the walled-in East Berliners turned to restoring their museums, theaters, and landmarks, while West Berliners, open to travel from the west, built entirely new museums and cultural centers. This contrast between the two parts of the city is still.

© 2009, Wiley Publishing, Inc.