Holocaust Memorial

Poignant remembrance of wartime horror
Talk of the town: Approximately 5,000 people a day visit the memorial, just under two million a year.

Designed by Peter Eisenman and Buro Happold, this stark, beautiful square between the Brandenburg Gate and Potsdamer Platz, is a permanent reminder of the Jewish persecution during World War II. Opened in 2005, the memorial consists of 2,711 blocks of concrete – 'stelae' – placed over an area of 19,000 square metres. The site slopes slightly, designed to give the observer a sense of confusion and bewilderment symbolising a world that has lost all reason.
The memorial was the subject of much controversy, with many debating whether Germany can ever be allowed to move on with such a powerful reminder of its failings staring back at it every day. Others argue that this is precisely the reason it was needed.

Visitors can wander between the stones – a deeply evocative experience – and spend time contemplating their meaning. There is an information centre underground detailing events of the Holocaust, which is also free to enter.