Why the
Reichstag
is special

The relatively new glass dome of the German Parliament Building, the Reischstag, has a remarkable architectural design.

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Reichstag
tips & insights

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Dome

The 1999 Reischstag dome (see photo) was designed by Britain's internationally renowned architect Sir Norman Foster.

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View government in action

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.

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Walk up

You reach to the top of the dome via a pair of spiral ramps. You can see them in the photo montage.

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Funnel

A colossal inverted funnel with attached mirrors rises in the middle of the dome (see photo). Its purpose is threefold:

Ventilate the parliament chamber

Reflect light off the mirrors down into that assembly room

Impress the tourists

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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 one of the prime icons of Germany.

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How to avoid the lines

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 closing time, 10 p.m.)

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