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Why the
Reichstag
is special
 The
relatively new glass dome of the German Parliament Building, the Reischstag, has a
remarkable architectural design.
Tips & insights on
the Reichstag
The
1999 Reischstag dome (see photo) was designed by Britain's internationally
renowned architect Sir Norman Foster.
The
glass cupola sits directly over the German legislative chamber. Dome
visitors can peer down into that room and, if the legislative body is in
session, can see the members in action.
You
walk up to the top of the dome via a pair of spiral ramps. (You can see them in
the photo).
A
colossal inverted funnel with attached mirrors rises in the middle of the dome
(see photo). Its purpose is threefold: To ventilate the parliament chamber; to
reflect light off the mirrors down into that assembly room; to impress tourists.
History
in brief: The Reischstag was built in 1894, suffered major fire damage in 1933,
and artillery bombardment in 1945. It then sat mainly unused for a half of a
century until it was reconstructed in the 1990s. Today, it is a prime icon of
Germany.
The
dome is quite popular and space inside is limited. Consequently, lines can
become tediously long, sometimes measuring an hour or two. It's best to arrive
when or soon after it opens (8 a.m.) or late in the day (between 5 p.m. and its
closingtime, 10 p.m.)
 
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