Alexanderplatz, Public square in Mitte, Berlin, Germany
Alexanderplatz is a rectangular square in Berlin's Mitte district, covering about eight hectares as a pedestrian zone since the 1960s rebuild. The Park Inn hotel and the Galeria Kaufhof department store, both dating from that reconstruction, stand along its edges, and the square serves as a hub for S-Bahn, U-Bahn, regional and tram lines.
The square was long called Platz vor dem Georgentor, then Königs Thor Platz after Frederick I entered through the gate following his 1701 coronation in Königsberg. It took its present name in 1805 from Tsar Alexander I. A weekly cattle market had been held here since 1681, when livestock trading was banned inside the city.
The World Time Clock in the center has served Berliners as a meeting point since the 1960s, showing the time in 148 cities worldwide on a rotating column. People gather around the clock to wait for friends or simply watch the activity on the square.
The square connects several U-Bahn lines, S-Bahn trains, trams and regional trains in a large underground station. The many exits lead in different directions, so it helps to check the right exit before traveling.
In November 1989, over 500000 people gathered on the square to demonstrate for political change, marking a turning point before the fall of the Berlin Wall. The rally is considered one of the largest demonstrations in the history of East Germany.
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