Germany
Since reunification in 1989, Germany has regained its crown as one of the largest countries in Europe. Bordered by nine European countries, this expansive land offers something for everyone from sports, cuisine, culture and shopping to incredible classic, baroque and renaissance architecture. Germany's famous sons Mies van de Rohe and Walter Gropius have in turn influenced international architecture.
Since reunification Berlin has regained its crown as the third largest city (covering 892km2) and the most politically influential capital in Europe, with a landscape that gives testament to its turbulent recent history.
The legacy of the Berlin Wall is a skyline of contrasting architectural styles from Gothic and baroque through classicism, and post-war modernism to the contemporary modernism of today. Berlin also boasts an amazing 35% of its area as parks, forests and waterways including the Müggelsee Lake, a magnet for water sports enthusiasts during the summer. Since the 1990s the city has seen extensive restoration and billions of euros in Government investment resulting in a modern, optimistic city with a fantastic infrastructure unrivalled throughout Europe.
The sense of history is highlighted through an abundance of museums including the poignant Haus am Checkpoint Charlie exhibiting pieces of the old Berlin Wall, the Egyptian Museum, the Bauhaus Museum of Design, the baroque Schloss Charlottenburg and the many Jewish monuments such as the Jüdische Museum.
The city boasts extensive historical monuments and landmarks including the Brandenburg Gate built in 1791, now the most visited landmark in Berlin. Another must-see is the Reichstag, restored for the second time in one hundred years and reclaimed as the seat of the German Government in 1991.
Potsdamer Platz, once divided by the wall, was completely rebuilt in 1995 and today is home to stunning shopping arcades, theatres and clubs, complimented by the shopping mile of Tauentzienstrasse, home to the KaDaWe, Europe's largest department store and the famous Kurfuerstendamm (Ku'damm), bursting with luxury stores, hotels, fashionable restaurants and bars.
The city enjoys an international reputation for contemporary architecture, nightlife and arts. Berlin receives millions of visitors each year attracted by the successful rejuvenation of this world-class city; its strong economy, fantastic transport system, wide variety of choice and quality of services, creativity and liberal lifestyle.
With high levels of investment and development creating a constantly evolving landscape, it is impossible not to consider this vibrant city as your dream home destination or as a fantastic investment opportunity.