Bebelplatz is a historical site in Berlin built at the instruction of King Frederick II. The Bebelplatz houses the following buildings:
- St. Hedwig’s Cathedral
- A state opera house
- An old Library
King Frederick II had other designs for the Bebelplatz and wanted it to have an opera house, an academy and a royal palace. But he passed away much before its completion. The opera house had been built by that time which is why the Bebelplatz came to be known as as Opernplatz in Berlin. The region was later referred to as Bebelplatz after the famous Social Democratic Party leader- August Bebel.
Bebelplatz also houses the remnants of the book burning program that was organized by Joseph Goebbels who was the Nazi
minister for Propaganda and Public Enlightenment. This event saw the
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burning of precious books and artifacts, written and preserved by the Communists, Jews and Pacifists. Visitors can still see the empty bookshelves in a glass-roofed house in Bebelplatz.
St. Hedwig’s Cathedral is considered to be the first cathedral of its kind that was built after the Protestant Reformation in Germany. Built in the year 1747, the St. Hedwig’s Cathedral in Bebelplatz offers a quaint look to the vicinity. It is also the Bishop’s Church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Berlin.
The State Opera House is one of the important places of interest in Bebelplatz. Built in the year 1743, the opera house is also host to the Staatskapelle Berlin, which is one of the leading orchestras in the country. It was destroyed during the Second World War, but was restored to its former glory in the 1950s.
The Old Library is now a part of the Humboldt University, but was initially built as a royal archive.
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