Each city has its own zest, a landmark that the whole country is proud of. In the German capital, this is the Berlin TV Tower. Today it is called the "icon" of Berlin. From the height of the object, an unsurpassed panorama of the city opens. Statistics show that this landmark is the highest artificial point in the state. The television tower from the first days of its appearance has become a symbol of the capital of Germany. And she justifiably deserved her success.
History of the popular object
The Berlin TV Tower was put into operation in early October 1969. But this event was preceded by a long history. It was decided to build such a structure back in the 1950s. The structure was supposed to stand on the Müggelberg mountains. Berlin-Schönefeld Airport was located next to this area, so construction robots were suspended, because a tall structure could pose a danger to overflying aircraft.
In 1964, W alter Ulbricht proposed to build a television tower on Alexanderplatz (Berlin, Mitte). The project of the future facility was developed by Hermann Hanselmann,Gunther Franke and Fritz Dieter. In early August 1965, the construction of the attraction began. The building manager was Gerhard Kosel, but shortly after the start of the campaign he was fired. Kozel's dismissal was explained by the fact that he spent 200 million marks on the construction site, which was six times the amount of the planned budget.
German materials were used to create the tower. The only exceptions were cables, elevators and the air conditioning system. All this was mounted by a company from Sweden. Protective glass ordered in the Netherlands also made up a separate expense item.
The entire construction of Berlin's pride took four years, and the tower was put into operation on October 3, 1969.
Three design names
The Berlin TV tower has three names. The locals call it “the revenge of the pope” when the ball of the structure is illuminated by the sun. At this moment, an image of a cross is formed on it. With this name, the Germans hint at the discrimination of the church in the GDR and the atheistic views of the socialist society.
Berliners also call the building the Church of St. W alter - in honor of W alter Ulbricht. Ulbricht Memorial Church is the third name of the tower, which appeared after Ulbricht's death.
How the attraction was built
Berlin (Mitte - the most prestigious area of the metropolis) - the city in which the attraction of the same name is located. Expensive objects should be located in fashionable districts. This is the very center of the village. The tower isthe highest structure in the country and one of the four highest structures on the planet. Only the Moscow, Kyiv and Riga TV towers are ahead of her in height.
The height of the TV tower in Berlin reaches 368 meters. The object's pipe was poured with concrete using a sliding formwork. The skeleton of the ball was assembled on the ground, then a crane was installed at the top of the pipe and the ball was lifted and mounted in fragments. This crane is located at the top of the structure to this day, only today its boom is lowered. The rotating ball makes a complete revolution in 30 minutes. It houses an observation deck.
A smaller crane was also used to mount the antenna. It was also assembled in parts, each of which was four meters long. The antenna is 118 meters long. With a strong wind, it deviates 80 cm from its axis. In winter, it is sometimes heated with electricity to prevent icing.
The tower has two elevators and 986 steps, as well as a restaurant, a spire and a panoramic floor.
Visit the tower
Every day the Berlin TV tower receives thousands of tourists. A ticket costs 13-23 euros depending on its type. The choice of guests is offered to buy one of the four provided ticket options:
- Lark - with this pass you can see the sight at 9 am from March to October and at 10 am from November to February. A child ticket costs 8.5 euros, and an adult ticket costs 13 euros.
- "Midnight" - a ticket that gives the right to viewtowers from 21.30 to 23.00. This option will cost the same as the previous one.
- "Speed Check" - this fare allows you to reserve a ticket for a specific date and go on a tour without a queue. The ticket price for children is €12 and for adults €19.5.
- The "VIP" is the most expensive, but the best pass: it allows not only to inspect the object, but also gives privileges in the Sphere restaurant.
Interesting about the tower
The television tower in the German capital is owned by Deutsche Telekom.
In the 1970s, a garden with flower beds was arranged at its foot in a free square. Ornamental trees were also planted there and pink parterres were laid out.
When the World Cup was held in 2006, the ball on the tower was decorated with red foil. This resulted in a giant soccer ball.
