Reichstag Building
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Why go
- The glass dome gives a 360-degree view of Berlin and looks down into the debating chamber.
- Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapped the Reichstag in silver cloth for two weeks in summer 1995, drawing millions of visitors.
Opening hours
Today08:00 – 22:00Show all
Don't miss
- Glass domeFollow the helical path to the top.Above the plenary hall
- Preserved wall with Soviet graffitiAn old interior wall retains Soviet soldiers’ graffiti; visible bullet holes were also preserved during renovation as reminders of the battle for Berlin.Inside the building
- “Dem deutschen Volke” inscriptionThe words mean “For the German people.” Added in 1916, the bronze letters were designed by Peter Behrens and cast from two cannons supplied by Wilhelm II.On the pediment above the main façade
- “Der Bevölkerung” inscriptionThe words are surrounded by soil and seeds brought by lawmakers.North inner courtyard
Know before you go
- Visiting hours: daily, 08:00–22:00.
- Prior registration is required to enter the dome.
- Advance booking may be needed for a building tour or to listen to a parliamentary debate.
Tips for your visit
- Reserve a dome time online or at the small building across Scheidemannstraße.
- Beyond the dome, visits can include a building tour or listening to a parliamentary debate.
Interesting facts3
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The dome’s moving sun shield blocks direct sunlight while natural light reaches the parliament floor.
Reichstag building - Wikipedia -
The building was constructed with Portland cement reinforced by steel, then a new technique for large buildings.
Reichstagsgebäude - Wikipedia -
Its four corner towers represent Bavaria, Saxony, Prussia and Württemberg.
Palais du Reichstag - Wikipedia
Shorts
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Visit to the Dome of Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany: free pano…The Fancy Explorer
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Reichstag Building in Berlin For German Parliament (Previously Reichs…Dr Dhey Vinci
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Evolution of the Reichstag Building,Berlin,Then VS NowThe world history
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BERLIN REICHSTAG (parliament building)THE BERLIN CHANNEL
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June 1945. The destroyed Reichstag buildingAihistories
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Reichstag Building: The Historic and Political Heart of Berlin!Quick World Tours
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Reichstag Building – The Heart of German DemocracyGermany Daily Life
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Reichstag Building 1880-2025Concise History
History
Construction was funded by French war indemnities paid after 1871. The building first housed the German Empire’s legislature and later the Weimar Republic’s Reichstag. During Berlin’s division, it stood in West Berlin beside the eastern sector, with the Berlin Wall at its façade.
- 1871The Reichstag approved a motion for a suitable parliament building on 19 April.
- 1882Paul Wallot’s design was selected from 189 anonymous submissions.
- 1884–1894Wallot’s building was constructed on Platz der Republik to house the German parliament.
- 1889Engineer Hermann Zimmermann devised a steel-and-glass dome design, reducing its height from 85 to nearly 75 metres.
- 1918Philipp Scheidemann proclaimed a republic from the Reichstag on 9 November.
Show all
- 1933The building burned on the night of 27–28 February. Hitler used the fire to blame Communists and claim an attempted revolution; parliamentary meetings moved to the nearby Kroll Opera House.
- 1945On 30 April, the Red Army raised a red flag on the roof during the capture of Berlin.
- 1960sPaul Baumgarten restored the building in modernized form without its war-damaged dome; it later hosted exhibitions and special events.
- 1990Germany’s official reunification ceremony took place in the building on 3 October.
- 1991On 20 June, the Bundestag voted by a narrow majority to move parliament and government from Bonn to Berlin.
- 1995–1999Norman Foster redesigned the Reichstag for permanent parliamentary use. The Bundestag first convened in the restored building on 19 April 1999.
Accessibility
- Reichstag contact For questions about step-free entry, lifts, toilets or parking, contact the Reichstag visitor service on +49 30 227 37171.
Sources: Reichstag building - Wikipedia · Berlin/Mitte - Wikivoyage (see) · Architektur des Reichstagsgebäudes - Deutscher … · Reichstagsgebäude - Wikipedia · Palais du Reichstag - Wikipedia · checked 28 Sep 2026
- Phone
- +493022737171
Questions and answers
Who designed the Reichstag Building’s glass dome?
Norman Foster designed the modern dome above the plenary hall, based on an idea by Gottfried Böhm.
What stood on the Reichstag Building’s site before it was built?
The Raczyński palace stood there before it was demolished for construction.
Who made the Reichstag Building’s sculptural decoration?
Friedrich Volke made the sculptural decoration.
How tall was the Reichstag Building’s original dome?
Hermann Zimmermann’s 1889 steel-and-glass design reduced its planned height from 85 metres to nearly 75 metres.
How did the Reichstag Building’s original dome handle temperature changes?
Its design allowed the dome to expand and contract as temperatures changed.
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