Bebelplatz (Bebel Square), Berlin
Formerly and colloquially still referred to as Opera Square, this spot in the central Mitte district of Berlin bears the name of August Bebel, a 19th-century founder of the Social Democratic Party of Germany. The square consists of a green area to the east and an open area to the west of the State Opera House, to which it owes its prewar name.
The square was originally laid out between 1741 and 1743 under King Frederick II of Prussia, as part of his so-called Frederick's Forum plan. Due to opposition from his cousin, Frederick William, the plan was scaled down, and the square ended up smaller than initially intended. Still, it was surrounded by notable buildings such as the State Opera, Saint Hedwig's Cathedral, and the Old Library. Originally named Opera Square, it was renamed Kaiser Franz Josef Square in 1910 in honor of the Austrian Emperor鈥檚 80th birthday.
Unfortunately, in the 20th century, this square became eternally ill-famed as the site of one of the most infamous attempts to erase knowledge in the history of mankind. Here, on the evening of 10 May 1933, the nationalist German Student Association burned around 20,000 books that they deemed objectionable from the university library. Whipped up into a frenzy by the Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels' speech, members of the Nazi Students' League, SA, SS, and Hitler Youth set ablaze the works by renowned authors like Heinrich Mann, Erich Maria Remarque, Karl Marx, and Albert Einstein.
The "Empty Library" poignant memorial 鈥� consisting of a glass-enclosed view into an underground chamber with empty bookshelves 鈥� created by Micha Ullman, at the heart of the square, commemorates the event. Nearby, is a prophetic quote from Heinrich Heine, warning that where books are burned, people will eventually be burned too.
Heavily damaged during World War II, the square was renamed Bebel Square in 1947 and fully restored in the 1950s. Today, the layout of Bebel Square remains largely unchanged, with many of its historical buildings reconstructed, preserving the architectural legacy of the 18th century. These include the swanky Hotel de Rome.
Visiting in the evening or late afternoon is recommended, as the illumination enhances the visibility of the memorial on the ground, reminding of the profound consequences of intolerance and hatred.
The square was originally laid out between 1741 and 1743 under King Frederick II of Prussia, as part of his so-called Frederick's Forum plan. Due to opposition from his cousin, Frederick William, the plan was scaled down, and the square ended up smaller than initially intended. Still, it was surrounded by notable buildings such as the State Opera, Saint Hedwig's Cathedral, and the Old Library. Originally named Opera Square, it was renamed Kaiser Franz Josef Square in 1910 in honor of the Austrian Emperor鈥檚 80th birthday.
Unfortunately, in the 20th century, this square became eternally ill-famed as the site of one of the most infamous attempts to erase knowledge in the history of mankind. Here, on the evening of 10 May 1933, the nationalist German Student Association burned around 20,000 books that they deemed objectionable from the university library. Whipped up into a frenzy by the Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels' speech, members of the Nazi Students' League, SA, SS, and Hitler Youth set ablaze the works by renowned authors like Heinrich Mann, Erich Maria Remarque, Karl Marx, and Albert Einstein.
The "Empty Library" poignant memorial 鈥� consisting of a glass-enclosed view into an underground chamber with empty bookshelves 鈥� created by Micha Ullman, at the heart of the square, commemorates the event. Nearby, is a prophetic quote from Heinrich Heine, warning that where books are burned, people will eventually be burned too.
Heavily damaged during World War II, the square was renamed Bebel Square in 1947 and fully restored in the 1950s. Today, the layout of Bebel Square remains largely unchanged, with many of its historical buildings reconstructed, preserving the architectural legacy of the 18th century. These include the swanky Hotel de Rome.
Visiting in the evening or late afternoon is recommended, as the illumination enhances the visibility of the memorial on the ground, reminding of the profound consequences of intolerance and hatred.
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Bebelplatz (Bebel Square) on Map
Sight Name: Bebelplatz (Bebel Square)
Sight Location: Berlin, Germany (See walking tours in Berlin)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Berlin, Germany (See walking tours in Berlin)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Berlin, Germany
Create Your Own Walk in Berlin
Creating your own self-guided walk in Berlin is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
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Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
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The German capital, Berlin, is known for its turbulent past. Today, this sprawling metropolis is filled with a mix of historical resonance and modernity manifested in creative industries, popular media, and diverse cultural tourism.
The first written records of settlements in the present-day Berlin area date back to the late 12th century. In 1157, the region came under German rule as part of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
The first written records of settlements in the present-day Berlin area date back to the late 12th century. In 1157, the region came under German rule as part of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Berlin Food Walking Tour
While Berlin may not be considered a typical foodie destination yet, recent years saw a growing number of decent places to eat, serving both German and international cuisine. At some point, the city has even earned itself the title of a vegetarian capital of the world, contrary to what one may have expected. Amid all this renaissance in creativity and culture, coupled with the influx of the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
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One of Berlin鈥檚 most visited attractions, the Museum Island ("Museumsinsel") complex was established by order of King Frederick William IV of Prussia in 1841 and houses several world-famous museums kept in close vicinity of each other. The island itself is spectacular for a walk, with wonderful architecture, statues, gardens and trees, so enjoy the atmosphere and make at least a day... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
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Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Alexanderplatz Walking Tour
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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
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