Galeries Lafayette in Berlin

Berlin is the very core of the modern day Germany, and its style and elegance is evident everywhere from its impressive public buildings, historical museums and theatres, classy restaurants, bustling pubs and teeming nightclubs.

One of the faces of modern and elegant Berlin is the Galeries Lafayette located in the Friedrichstrasse.

It is as if a small island of France has been created right in the heart of Berlin in Galeries Lafayette. This stylish departmental store keeps all things French--French designer apparel, French perfumes, colognes, shoes accessories etc.

This snazzy glass structure was designed by the renowned architect Jean Nouvel. Nouvel's signature style is that of creating slick-sensuous glass surfaces. In this building the architect employs various kinds of transparent and translucent surfaces to portray the historic department store building type-of which the Paris Galeries is a commonly-cited example-in the process providing a different facade to Friedrichstrasse. The building's fabulous architecture is partly responsible in helping the disctrict regain its former glory as Berlin's fanciest shopping street.

In stead of a central atrium this building has several glass cone-shaped structures. The main cone rises several stories upwards from street level to the top of the building. A second, smaller, inverted cone reaches from street level, past two shopping levels and two parking levels underground. Architecturally speaking the cones do not succeed in providing relief from the sort of cramped merchandise areas. However they do make an interesting spectacle and cause shoppers and tourists to explore the place.

Galeries Lafayette houses elegant brand-name French designs and expensive perfumes, colognes, shoes, and accessories. The department store is also very well known for its fabulous basement floor, which features gourmet delights like exotic produce, imported wines, premium meats, and other delicacies.

How to reach:

Take the Ubahn U2 or U6 to Stadtmitte and walk north along Friedrichstrasse. The building is block 207, between Franzoesische Strasse and Mohrenstrasse.