East Side Gallery, urban art on the Berlin Wall: where it is

One of the thematic axes of your trip to berlin is undoubtedly the old wall that separated both parts of the city during the Cold War.

For this reason, the curiosity to see what remains of said wall has become one of the attractions when it comes to visit berlin.

But do you know that almost all of the old Berlin Wall Was it demolished immediately on November 9, 1989, when the restrictions on passage between the two areas of the city were lifted?

Indeed, the rapid destruction of the Berlin Wall became a symbol of the fall of the communist regime not only in the German Democratic Republic, but also in all eastern countries.

At that time, the fortification built in August 1961 extended 43 kilometers inside the city.

I had the opportunity to travel to berlin just three months after Fall of the Wall, and I could see that there was practically no trace of it left.

What is East Side Gallery

Now, do you know where you can see the longest stretch of the old berlin wall that still remains in the German capital?

In the area known as the East Side Gallery.

With a length of 1,3 kilometers, the East Side Gallery It is the result of the joint action of hundreds of artists from all over the world that, after the aforementioned Fall of the Wall They turned that area into the artistic expression of the german reunification.

The result was 106 wall paintings that extend along this section, which were carried out between February and September 1990.

Without a doubt it is the best place you have not only to visit the largest section of the former Berlin Wall, but also to see the artistic reflection of what it meant for the history of the city and Germany.

Where is East Side Gallery

The wall East Side Gallery you find it on the street Mühlenstrasse, at the doors of Berlin Turkish Quarter.

Specifically, between the Oberbaumbrücke bridge and the train station Ost-Bahnhof.

This section of the wall extended on the east side of the Spree river and in the aforementioned Oberbaumbrücke bridge there was a border crossing.

After the completion of the mural paintings, in 1992 the East Side Gallery It was declared artistic heritage.

Over the years, both the paintings and the general condition of this section of the wall degenerated due to inclement weather and graffiti.

As a consequence, it became necessary to restoration, both the concrete and the aforementioned paintings, so that in 2000 a first section was restored, and in 2009 a more complete one was undertaken that already affected the entire wall.

How to Get to East Side Gallery

For visit the East Side Gallery Wall, you can go to the metro station Warschauer Strasse (line U1).

When you reach this old stretch of the Berlin WallDon't be surprised to find hundreds of tourists who daily walk along the east façade of the building looking at the different mural paintings.

It is a walk where you will see artistic works of all styles and characteristics, as well as from the most colorful and humorous to the most tragic.

And of course you can see the most famous mural painting in the city. East Side Gallery, Honecker and Brezhnev kiss, leaders of the aforementioned German Democratic Republic and Soviet Union, common type of greeting in communist era.

Finally, you will also find some souvenir shop where to buy a souvenir from this much visited place in Berlin.

In sum, a essential visit to be able to feel and say that you have seen the old berlin wall.

Photos East Side Gallery in Berlin

In advance of your visit, here is a East Side Gallery Wall photo gallery de Berlin.