Berlin Unveils Special Events Schedule for 2010

by TravelPulse Staff
Last updated: 12:33 AM ET, Fri February 5, 2010

In 2010, Berlin continues to attract visitors with new highlights, special exhibitions, anniversaries, and more. Below some featured highlights for spring 2010. "Luise. Life and Myth of a Queen" is scheduled for March 6 to Oct. 31. She was beautiful, attractive, and above all very popular. Seeking political reform, and greatly opposing Napoleon, Queen Luise personified hope during the "hard times" in the beginning of the 19th century. For the 200th anniversary of her death, (1776-1810), three exhibitions will focus on different aspects of Luise's life. "Luise. Life and Legend of a Queen" will offer an overview of the legendary Prussian queen at Charlottenburg Castle, March 6 to May 30. "Luise. The Queen's Island World" shows a contemporary interpretation of the queen and her times, staged at Peacock Island, one of the queen's favorite retreats on the outskirts of Berlin, May 1 to Oct. 31. "Luise. The Queen's Clothes" will exhibit original outfits and accessories that belonged to the queen at the former summer residence of the royal family, the Paretz Palace and Coach House, July 31 to Oct. 31. For more information, visit www.spsg.de.

"Frida Kahlo -- Retrospective," is scheduled for April 30 to Aug. 9. Works by the Mexican artist including over 170 paintings and drawings showcased at the Martin-Gropius-Bau will be the most extensive exhibition of Frida Kahlo's works to date. There will also be approximately 90 drawings, some of them hitherto unpublished, which reveal lesser-known aspects of the artist, including landscapes that metamorphose into sexual fantasies and subtly humorous plays on words and images. For more information, visit www.martin-gropius-bau.de.

Year of Sciences Berlin 2010 -- In celebration of a score of significant anniversaries of Berlin's influential scientific institutions, the year 2010 is dedicated to the sciences in Berlin. Throughout the year, more than 150 events are dedicated to science in Berlin including a central exhibition of the "Year of Science," Knowledge of the World -- 300 Years of Science in Berlin, which will be staged at the Gropius Building. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz worked in Berlin as the last great universal scholar, Einstein completed his Theory of Relativity and Konrad Kruse built his first computer in Berlin. "Knowledge of the Word" will feature these and other significant scientific events, Sept. 24, 2010, to Jan. 9, 2011. For more information, visit www.gropiusbau.de or www.berlinerfestspiele.de.

Long Nights of Museums, Opera, and Science -- Berlin's bi-annual Long Night of Museums (Aug. 28) has long been wildly popular with locals and visitors alike (27,000 visitors in January 2010). The museum night is now complemented by two more exciting longs nights, all designed to put a special focus on Berlin's diverse cultural and historical landscape: the Long Night of Opera (April 10) and Theater and the Long Night of Science (June 5).
During the second Long Night of Opera and Theater, some 60 Berlin stages will demonstrate their variety, originality, and distinctiveness. From 7 p.m. until 1 a.m., they will offer a stream of short, approximately half-hour events allowing audience members to assemble their own journey of discovery through the Berlin opera and theater scene. The program offers not just "taster" visits, but also surprises for ardent theater fans. Shuttle buses will operate on seven different routes. The starting point and meeting spot is the Bebelplatz with an open-air stage, central box office, and information stand. For more information, visit www.kulturprojekte-berlin.de.

The Long Night of Sciences offers special access to scientific institutions in Berlin and Potsdam. From 5 p.m. until 1 a.m., some 70 institutions, ranging from laboratories, to libraries, to universities offer a large program of presentations, lectures, experiments, but also music, performance and theater.

The Long Night of the Museums features around 100 museums, large and small, with established and new collections, as they open their doors from 6 p.m. Saturday evening until 2 a.m. Sunday morning. Music, theater, and culinary events will enhance the permanent and temporary exhibitions. With one ticket, patrons get unlimited use of a special shuttle bus service and admission to all participating venues and events. For more information, visit www.lange-nacht-der-museen.de or www.kulturprojekte-berlin.de. For general destination information, visit www.visitBerlin.de.