How Germany is celebrating the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall - Wanderlust (2024)

Germany

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The 9 November 1989 marked a major event in recent history: The collapse of the Berlin Wall. The wall had divided Eastern and Western Germany since 1961, marking the separation between communist and democratic countries and tearing families and friends apart.

Peaceful protests led to the fall of the wall, and this continued until, a year later in 1990, Germany became a united country once again. This era was named the Peaceful Revolution – or in German Die Wende meaning ‘turning point’ – and was a catalyst in the fall of the so-called ‘Iron Curtain’ and the end of the Cold War.

Here, we look at some of the must-visit exhibitions and events taking place to mark the 35^th anniversary of the reunification of Germany and the fall of the Berlin Wall – in the capital and beyond…

A wall of freedom

Following the former course of the Berlin Wall, a temporary installation dedicated to the Peaceful Revolution will temporarily take its place. Over the past several months, the project has collected the thoughts of people of Berlin and beyond through discussions and workshops, asking them to explore the significance of the peaceful protest events that took place between 1989/1990, and its impact on society today. These voices – all supporting freedom and democracy – will be showcased on signs, poster and banners along a 4km stretch between Invalidenstraße and Axel- Springer Street on the 8-9 November. On the night of 9 November, hundreds of musicians and singers will line the path of the wall for a collaborative performance.

Must-visit exhibitions

Both permanent and temporary exhibitions are worth seeking out to understand the history and culture that developed as a result of the Berlin Wall. From 8 November 2024-2 March 2025, The Wall: before, after, East and West at Stiftung Brandenburger Tor explores the contrasting artistic viewpoints of Eastern and Western Berliners, with a focus around the time of the fall of the wall. Meanwhile, Love Letters to the City (until 3 May 2025) at the Urban Nation museum is a street art installation that unpacks the diversity of wall painting in the city, and Heavy Metal in the GDR (until 9 February 2025) at the Museum in der Kulturbrauerei provides an interactive insight into the rise of this underground music genre that developed a decade before the fall of the wall.

Some permanent exhibitions include the Humbolt Forum’s ongoing BERLIN GLOBAL, an immersive display telling the story of the capital, its people and its history, and how it has made an impact on the world. Only intended as a temporary exhibit, Yadegar Asisi’s Die Mauer at Checkpoint Charlie is a panoramic installation depicting life in the shadow of the Berlin Wall: it’s popularity has kept it going for more than a decade. Alternatively, 1961 | 1989. The Berlin Wall is a 420-sqm space focusing on the political-historical background of the division of Germany.

Follow the path of the former wall

There are still remnants of the wall to see in the capital. The longest remaining section, and the most famous, is the East Side Gallery: the 1.3km stretch of wall has been painted by more than 100 artists following the reunification of Germany, and is now said to be the largest open-air gallery in the world. Many also head to Bernauer Strasse, an focal point during the division of Germany, and now where you’ll find a memorial along the former border. You can book a tour to learn more about this area of historical significance – some tours have been designed for those with visual impairments.

Leipzig’s Festival of Lights

The breakthrough of the Peaceful Revolution came on 9 October 1989. More than 70,000 people gathered in Leipzig and marched through its streets with candles in hand, chanting ‘no violence’ and ‘we are one’. The event was the precursor of the fall of the Berlin Wall. To commemorate the 35^th anniversary, the Leipzig Festival of Lights will take place in the city, with 20 light installations lining the authentic protester route. The opening of the festival will take place at Augustusplatz, where there will be performances by the Saxon Wind Philharmonic Orchestra, along with a giant ‘89’ created from thousands of candles.

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• How Germany is celebrating the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall