Bebelplatz is one of Berlin's most beautiful and historic squares. Located in the Mitte district, along the prestigious Unter den Linden avenue, it is famous for its neoclassical architectural harmony and for being the scene of one of the darkest episodes of the 20th century.

History and significance:

- Origin: Created in 1740 during the reign of Frederick the Great, the square was intended to be the center of the "Forum Fridericianum," a complex of buildings representing Prussian culture, science, and religion.

- Name: Originally called Opernplatz (Opera Square), it was renamed in 1947 in honor of August Bebel, one of the founders of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD).

- The Book Burning (1933): On May 10, 1933, the square was the site where Nazi students, encouraged by Joseph Goebbels, burned approximately 20,000 books by authors considered "degenerate" or "non-German" (such as Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, and Heinrich Heine).

The most visited element of Bebelplatz in 2026 is the underground memorial "Empty Library" (Versunkene Bibliothek) created by Israeli artist Micha Ullman:

- What it is: In the center of the square, there is a glass plate on the ground. Looking down, you see a white underground room with empty bookshelves, with space for exactly the 20,000 volumes burned.

- The Plaque: Next to the memorial, there is a plaque with the eerily accurate prophecy of author Heinrich Heine in 1820: "This was only a prelude; where books are burned, people will eventually be burned."

Bebelplatz is surrounded by breathtaking architectural monuments:

- Staatsoper Unter den Linden: the National Opera, a magnificent Rococo building that dominates the east side of the square.

- St. Hedwig's Cathedral (St. Hedwigs-Kathedrale): Berlin's main Catholic church, with its dome inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. In 2026, the cathedral is reopening after extensive interior renovations.

- Alte Bibliothek (Old Library): known to Berliners as "Kommode" (the Chest of Drawers) due to its curvilinear shape, it is now part of the Faculty of Law at Humboldt University.

- Hotel de Rome: one of Berlin's most luxurious hotels, housed in a former bank building (it's possible to visit the rooftop bar for an aerial view of the square).

At night, the underground library memorial is illuminated, creating a dramatic visual effect.

Address

Bebelplatz

U5 Museumsinsel Station

S3/S5/S7 Hackescher Markt Station

Bus lines 100 ou 200 (Staatsoper stop)

Tram lines M1 e 12 (Am Kupfergraben stop)