Karl-Marx-Allee

Probably the most famous avenue in the GDR, this epic two-kilometre-long street was built between 1952 and 1960. It is often considered to be the model for post-war socialist urban planning, as the buildings here perfectly reflect the post-war architectural style of the Soviet Union. The intention was for the architecture to be democratic in content but nationalistic in appearance, creating ‘palaces for the working class’.

The majority of structures here are eight storeys high, and while they might seem uniform when looking down the street, each has its own unique and fascinating qualities. At each end of the road stand architect Hermann Henselmann’s ‘gates’ to the street – a pair of towers at Frankfurter Tor and a set of tall apartment blocks at Strausberger Platz. The apartments are clad in Meissen ceramic tiles and colourful mosaics depicting GDR themes, a nod to the workers who lived here. Henselmann’s ideas shaped the road’s distinctive style, as his inspiration came from other architecture in the Socialist Realism style. Combined with ideas from the classical style of Karl Friedrich Schinkel, his buildings were truly ground-breaking.

The pavements on either side of this impressive 89-metre-wide boulevard are shaded by tall trees. Walking from end to end will take around an hour, unless you stop to read the numerous information boards telling the history of this fascinating street. Stop for Kaffee und Kuchen at Café Sybille, a charming spot doubling as a museum charting the life of Karl-Marx-Allee and featuring original GDR décor. Other sites of interest include bookshop Karl Marx Buchhandlung, which although closed, was used in the final scene of film Das Leben Der Anderen. In the centre of Strausberger Platz lies the sparkling Floating Ring fountain, harking back to the street’s grand beginnings.

In complete contrast to streets in West Berlin, here buildings are angular, symmetrical and relatively uniform. Walking down Karl-Marx-Allee on a sunny day will feel like a nostalgic trip back in time. It is a nice way to explore the history of architecture in East Berlin, and pedestrian footfall is always light so the walk is sure to be relaxed. The swooping architecture of this boulevard will definitely leave a lasting impression.