Back in 1987, a group of students excavated, with little more than their bare hands, the cellars of Berlin's former Gestapo and SS headquarters. The Topography of Terror is the fruit of their labour, an open-air exhibition documenting what happens when a totalitarian regime tortures its people to death for fun.

SS leader Heydrich, the man largely responsible for the organisation of the Nazi's 'final solution to the Jewish question' had his main office in the building that once stood here, that is until he was assasinated in Czechoslovakia.

There is also a huge chunk of the Berlin Wall left standing next to the exhibition, which ironically is protected by a huge fence. Taking pieces of the Wall away with you is a federal offense, so stand back and look - but don't touch. There are regular police patrols that pass by.

Take your passport or some form of official identification with you and you can pick up a headset for free with English commentary from the reception.

Why should I go
Because it's historically important.

Where
Niederkirchnerstraße 8, near the former Nazi airforce ministry

Homepage
www.topographie.de

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