Since Jan 01, 2000: District Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
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Since the 1980s Kreuzberg has been witnessing that the cohabitation of different cultures at close quarters can act vitalizing for all sides. Under the circumstances of Berlin's separation, Kreuzberg, the district with the highest density of population, became a melting pot of foreigners, social fringes and an alternative scene. After the wall went down, the district suddenly moved towards Berlin's geographical centre, the proximity to Mitte brought by chic restaurants and cocktail bars setting new accents. Today, Kreuzberg keeps being a scene district with a tough charme which differs from Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain by a specific atmosphere.
Remains of the border fortifications belong to the sightseeings: the restored Oberbaumbrücke bridge towards Friedrichshain, the legendary Checkpoint Charlie and the Wall on Niederkirchnerstraße neighbouring Mitte. The exhibition "Topography of Terror" emerges on the former Gestapo (the Nazis' secret service) headquarter site, a document of the terror of the Third Reich. Next-door there is the opulent Martin Gropius building where changing exhibitions are shown. Next to the castle-like Berlin Museum one of the most spectacular new buildings was raised: the Jewish Museum by Daniel Libeskind, documenting the history of the Jews in Germany by a constricting as well as symbolic architecture.
S6 city-train, U1 and U7 underground lines traverse the district in east-west direction, U8 and U6 in north-south course; the latter also passes the near airport Tempelhof. S1, S2 and S25 trains can be caught at the western border of Kreuzberg.