River Spree.

依施普雷河而建。

Berlin's history has been one of triumph and tragedy, tyranny and transformation.

柏林曾歷經輝煌，也走過慘淡；有過霸權專政，也經歷轉型。

Brought to her knees by two World Wars, and then divided throughout much of The Cold War,

雖曾受兩次世界大戰的戰火摧殘，走過冷戰時期的分裂局面，

Berlin has reemerged, blossoming into one of the world's economic and creative powerhouses.

但柏林已再次崛起，發展為全球重要的金融和創意樞紐之一。

With a population of only three-and-a-half million, Berlin enjoys an air of spaciousness

柏林人口僅有 350 萬，相較於其他歐洲國家首都，

not found in many other European capitals.

空間顯得寬敞許多。

Berlin is an incredibly green city, both physically and politically. At times it feels like the

此外，不論在環境上或政治上，柏林也是個綠色城市。

city was built just to fill in the gaps between its many parks, forests, and lakes.

有時看起來，這座城市好像是特地建來連接這裡許多的公園、森林和湖泊。

With hundreds of miles of bike paths, stringent traffic regulations, and an absence of hills,

柏林鋪設有數百哩的腳踏車道，交通規則嚴格，加上地勢平緩，

Berlin is the perfect city to explore on foot or by bicycle.

十分適合旅客步行或騎乘單車探索。

A legacy of Berlin's checkered history is a cityscape of every imaginable architectural

柏林紛紛擾擾的歷史留下了各式各樣的建築風格，

style; from the gothic to the baroque, from the socialist to the futuristic.

從哥德式到巴洛克風、從社會主義到未來主義，

Yet somehow it all works ~ magnificently!

但卻毫不違和，反而更顯相得益彰。

The Brandenburg Gate rose in the 18th century as a symbol of peace.

布蘭登堡門建於 18 世紀，為和平的象徵。

It was battered in the Second World War, then isolated by the division of Berlin, before

它於二次世界大戰時遭到損毀，在柏林分治時無人聞問，

becoming the rallying point during the joyous days of the reunification.

但終於在兩德統一之日成為人們集會歡慶的地點。

A block to the north, The Reichstag is also a symbol of a Berlin reborn.

往北一個街區的國會大廈，是象徵柏林重生的另一個地標。

Gutted by fire in 1933 and reduced to rubble during the fall of Berlin, today visitors

這裡曾在 1933 年慘遭祝融肆虐，在柏林淪陷時變成一片斷垣殘壁，

can climb the Reichstag's transparent dome for a bird's-eye view of the city.

今日遊客卻可以爬上重建後的玻璃圓頂，俯瞰整座城市。

Occupying an entire city block is the Holocaust Memorial - an unsettling reminder of the consequences

猶太人屠殺紀念碑佔據了整個街區，藉此提醒世人

of letting the roots of intolerance take hold.

極端種族主義帶來的嚴重後果。

Rolling out before the Brandenburg Gate, is The Tiergarten, a 500 acre tapestry of forests,

在布蘭登堡門前的是佔地 500 公畝的蒂爾加藤公園，

woodlands, and canals.

園內滿佈樹木、林地及河道。

The Tiergarten is also home to the Victory Column, the Soviet War Memorial and Bellevue

蒂爾加藤公園內有勝利紀念柱、蘇維埃戰爭紀念碑和貝爾維尤宮，

Palace ~ the official residence of the German President.

貝爾維尤宮也是總統官邸所在。

But her most famous resident of all, is the Berlin Zoo.

但整座公園裡最著名的還是柏林動物園。

Featuring over 1500 species, and enclosures that look more like natural habitats, The

園內飼養超過 1500 種動物，就像個野外自然棲息地，

Berlin Zoo is one of the most visited zoological gardens in Europe.

是全歐洲最受歡迎的動物園。

Berlin is a city of churches.

柏林也是教堂之城。

Retaining its war-damaged spire, The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is a shining example

威廉皇帝紀念教堂保留飽受戰火摧殘的鐘樓殘骸，

of Berlin's ability to honor its past, while forging a bold architectural future.

彰顯出柏林如何紀念歷史記憶，同時開創新式建築。

But perhaps Berlin's most striking place of worship, is The Chapel of Reconciliation,

但柏林最令人印象深刻的教堂，則非柏林圍牆紀念館內的信仰中心

the spiritual heart of the Berlin Wall Memorial.

和解教堂莫屬。

Near the center of Berlin, another section of the infamous wall has become a memorial

靠近柏林市中心，在柏林圍牆的另一邊，也成了一座紀念碑，

~ of a more colorful kind.

只是更加色彩繽紛，

Featuring the work of 100 international artists, the East Side Gallery is one of the largest

那就是集結全球 100 位藝術家作品的東側畫廊，

outdoor art exhibits in the world.

成為全球最大的戶外藝術展覽。

And the theme? Freedom, of course.

主題呢？當然就是「自由」。

Featured in countless spy novels and films, Checkpoint Charlie was the Cold War's most

常在間諜片裡出現的查理檢查哨，

famous border crossing.

是冷戰時期最有名的過境檢查站。

The adjacent museum explores the history of the checkpoint and the ingenious ways in which

鄰近的博物館記錄著檢查哨的歷史，以及當時居民

Berliners defected from East to West.

從東德叛逃到西德的各種花招。

The Cold War years remain an endless source of fascination for Berliners and visitors

無論當地居民或外來遊客

alike.

都對冷戰期間的歷史十分著迷。

At the DDR Museum, visitors are invited to rummage through the drawers and cupboards

在民主德國博物館裡，遊客可以翻找展品的抽屜和櫥櫃，

of its exhibits, which recreate life in East Germany during Socialist rule.

重現社會主義統治下的東德生活。

Directly opposite the DDR Museum, is Museum Island, a chance to step even further back

民主德國博物館對面是柏林博物館島，

in time.

讓人回顧更早期的歷史。

Now an internationally protected heritage site, the island is home to five museums,

這裡現在已列為世界文化遺產，島上共有五座博物館，

each one specializing in different periods of the arts and sciences.

每座都收藏不同時期的藝術和科學創作。

The Berlin Cathedral also stands on Museum Island.

柏林大教堂也位於博物館島上。

Once inside, climb the wide 270 step staircase to the observation deck and breathe in the

進了教堂後，爬上 270 階階梯，就可以來到觀景台，

colors of the city below.

將其下的城市美景盡收眼底。

Berlin is also a city of great civic squares.

柏林也有許多大型的市民廣場。

The Bebelplatz, is home of the Humboldt University.

洪堡大學就位於倍倍爾廣場上；

Alexanderplatz became a showcase for Soviet architecture throughout the Cold War.

亞歷山大廣場則成了展示冷戰期間蘇聯建築的最佳場所，

The Fernsehturm, a futuristic 1960s TV Tower, still evokes mankind's eternal quest to reach

其中高聳的電視塔建於 1960 年代，反應了人類

for the stars.

永恆的登高摘星渴望。

Potsdamer Platz was once known as the Times Square of Berlin.

波茨坦廣場曾被稱為柏林的時代廣場。

Since reunification the area has regenerated into a visionary space where all Berliners

兩德統一後，這裡成為一個充滿希望的空間，所有柏林人都能

can celebrate their city ~ together, as one.

歡聚於此，團結一致。

Welcome to the Berlin of the 21st century, a city proving to the world that tolerance,

歡迎造訪 21 世紀的柏林，這座城市向世人證明多元、

creativity and passion can bear the most incredible fruit.

創意和熱情可以催生出最甜美的果實。