Our culture programme
Alongside the effective language tuition in small groups offered at IH Berlin PROLOG, our extensive social and cultural offers form a further key element of our programme.
Tours, excursions, get-togethers and trips are organised regularly - on at least four occasions per week - to increase our students' appreciation of German culture as they are developing their German language skills.
All events are free, with the exception of possible entrance charges, and students are accompanied by a member of the IH Berlin PROLOG team. Below, we have details of our upcoming events.
Please remember to sign up in the office for all of the cultural events!
Our current timetable of cultural events
Saturday, 03.07.2010
German Technical Museum: Science Centre Spectrum
Why is the sky blue? Can warmth be seen? And: Why doesn’t a plane fall from the sky? These are only three of hundreds of questions that the Science Centre has an answer for.
The Science Centre offers 250 interactive experiment stations covering 1400 m² that let you truly experience technology and nature. You can do experiments regarding mechanics, light and vision, art and technology, warmth and temperature, and mathematics. A hands-on museum for trying new things out.
Length: about 2 hours
Meeting point: 10:30 a.m. in front of PROLOG
Wednesday 07.07.2010
Ephraim Palais
The Ephraim-Palais is a rococo building on the edge of the Nikolai quarter in Berlin-Mitte. It is a documented monument and is considered one of the most beautiful, historical private homes in the city. Today it is a museum. The building, fascinating for its architecture, fell into a state of disrepair in the 19th century and then, in the 1980s, it was returned to its original splendour. The Ephraim-Palais museum offers changing exhibitions about Berliner art and cultural history on three floors. The Graphic collection of the city museum is also housed here.
Length: about 2 hours
Meeting point: 11:15 a.m. and 13:45 a.m. in front of PROLOG
Saturday 10.07.2010
City walk Potsdam
Potsdam is the capital and the most populous city in Brandenburg. The northeast of Potsdam borders the southwest of Berlin.
Potsdam, along with its numerous and unique palaces and park gardens, is especially famous for its history as the former royal capital of Prussia. This cultural landscape was added to the list of world heritage sites by UNESCO as the largest ensemble of German heritage sites in 1990.
We’ll take a walk through the centre of the city. We’ll start at the Alten Markt with the city castle, Nikolaikirche and Altem Rathaus and then on to the Lustgarten and Neuen Markt and finish at the Stadtkanal.
Length: about 3 hours
Meeting point: 12 noon at Hauptbahnhof POTSDAM (S1 to Wannsee, then S7 to Potsdam Hbf), in front of the information stand of the Deutschen Bahn
Wednesday 14.07.2010
Centrum Judaicum
(concluding with a walk to Tacheles)
Berlin’s New Synagogue, and the permanent exhibition housed there, provide visitors with a a view of the history of the building and the way of life that was connected to it. Unfortunately, most of the objects which could have added a tangible historical context were destroyed. But, while the building was being restored and pain was taken to preserve what was left of the historical building remnants, many architectural fragments, as well as parts of the interior, were discovered. These remnants form the focal point of the exhibition.
While walking through the exhibition and viewing the documents and objects, visitors get a feeling of what it meant to be Jewish in this part of Berlin. While taking a tour, prepare to be impressed by the huge dimensions of the former main hall of the synagogue and the open area behind the restored parts of the building. The earlier interior wall and the last remnants of the brickwork that were part of the original synagogue are protected by a glass and steel construction. The floor plan of the former main synagogue – shown in stone – is traced in the open area and shows the dimensions of the part that was destroyed, thus outlining the visible scars that history has wrought.
Length: about 2 hours
Meeting point: 9:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in front of PROLOG
Saturday 17.07.2010
Wannsee Beach
A soft, warm and sandy beach in the middle of Berlin. The Wannsee beach is the biggest open bathing area on a lake in Germany. Berlin’s bathtub was opened in 1907 and since then has remained very popular with the city’s residents. There’s a water slide, famous Strandkörbe (wicker beach chairs) and everything else you could possibly need for a great day out at the beach.. Have fun!
Length: about 4 hours
Meeting point: 1:00 p.m. at S-Bahnhof Nikolassee
Wednesday 21.07.2010
Sandsation
The SANDSATION is going to be sensational this year. Famous sand carvers from all over the world are coming to the capital to participate in the USF (United Sand Festivals) World Solo Championship. With works up to six meters high, the twelve artists are not only competing for the favour of the public but also to become world champion in sand carving. With a bit of friendly competition and mutual respect – the sand carvers work together to build a grand sculpture over eight meters high. Altogether there will be more than 30 international top-carvers at Berlin’s largest open-air gallery.
Length: 2 hours
Meeting point: 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in front of PROLOG
Samstag 24.07.2010
Hohenschönhausen
The Memorial at Hohenschönhausen
The infamous jail of the State Security Services (STASI) of former East Germany.
The site of the main remand prison for people detained by the former East German Ministry of State Security (MfS), or 'Stasi', has been a Memorial since 1994.
At the end of the Second World War, a Soviet Special Camp was set up on the grounds of a former canteen block and food store in the northeast of Berlin.
After the Camp was closed in October 1946, the central remand centre of the Soviet NKWD was housed in the cellar of the building.
In 1951 the Ministry for State Security (MfS) took over the remand centre, added a new building and used it as a central remand centre until 1989.
Thousands of political prisoners were held here, among them almost all of the known opposition to the GDR.
Since the vast majority of the buildings, equipment, furniture and fittings have survived intact, the Memorial provides a very authentic picture of prison conditions in the GDR.
The Memorial's location in Germany's capital city makes it the key site in Germany for victims of communist tyranny.
Length: about 3 hours
Meeting point: 10:45 a.m. at Alexanderplatz in front of the World Time Clock
Mittwoch 28.07.2010
Sammlung Berggruen
The Berggruen museum is located across from the Charlottenburg palace. The exhibition called "Picasso and his time" shows paintings, sculpture and drawings on three floors. Over 100 objects by Picasso make up the focus of the collection. You can see his works in all its facettes: from a drawing from his early studies in 1897 to his works in 1972.
The second focus of the collection is dedicated to 60 images from Paul Klee.
There are over 20 works from Henri Matisse, as well as a half dozen of the famous silhouettes
Length: about 2 hours
Meeting point: 9.30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in front of PROLOG
Saturday 31.07.2010
Rostock / Warnemünde
The old Hansa City on the Baltic Sea is a favourite tourist destination. After a walk through the historic old city, passing by the Kröpeliner Gate and the Fischerbastion, we continue on with the regional train to the beach in the idyllic town of Warnemünde. The Baltic Sea and its white sand invite you to stay a while and take a dip in the water.
Length: about 10-12 hours
Meeting point: 8:30 a.m. at the Berliner main station on platform 6 (Train information: Regionalexpress RE 33104 in the direction of Rostock)
German Technical Museum: Science Centre Spectrum
Why is the sky blue? Can warmth be seen? And: Why doesn’t a plane fall from the sky? These are only three of hundreds of questions that the Science Centre has an answer for.
The Science Centre offers 250 interactive experiment stations covering 1400 m² that let you truly experience technology and nature. You can do experiments regarding mechanics, light and vision, art and technology, warmth and temperature, and mathematics. A hands-on museum for trying new things out.
Length: about 2 hours
Meeting point: 10:30 a.m. in front of PROLOG
Wednesday 07.07.2010
Ephraim Palais
The Ephraim-Palais is a rococo building on the edge of the Nikolai quarter in Berlin-Mitte. It is a documented monument and is considered one of the most beautiful, historical private homes in the city. Today it is a museum. The building, fascinating for its architecture, fell into a state of disrepair in the 19th century and then, in the 1980s, it was returned to its original splendour. The Ephraim-Palais museum offers changing exhibitions about Berliner art and cultural history on three floors. The Graphic collection of the city museum is also housed here.
Length: about 2 hours
Meeting point: 11:15 a.m. and 13:45 a.m. in front of PROLOG
Saturday 10.07.2010
City walk Potsdam
Potsdam is the capital and the most populous city in Brandenburg. The northeast of Potsdam borders the southwest of Berlin.
Potsdam, along with its numerous and unique palaces and park gardens, is especially famous for its history as the former royal capital of Prussia. This cultural landscape was added to the list of world heritage sites by UNESCO as the largest ensemble of German heritage sites in 1990.
We’ll take a walk through the centre of the city. We’ll start at the Alten Markt with the city castle, Nikolaikirche and Altem Rathaus and then on to the Lustgarten and Neuen Markt and finish at the Stadtkanal.
Length: about 3 hours
Meeting point: 12 noon at Hauptbahnhof POTSDAM (S1 to Wannsee, then S7 to Potsdam Hbf), in front of the information stand of the Deutschen Bahn
Wednesday 14.07.2010
Centrum Judaicum
(concluding with a walk to Tacheles)
Berlin’s New Synagogue, and the permanent exhibition housed there, provide visitors with a a view of the history of the building and the way of life that was connected to it. Unfortunately, most of the objects which could have added a tangible historical context were destroyed. But, while the building was being restored and pain was taken to preserve what was left of the historical building remnants, many architectural fragments, as well as parts of the interior, were discovered. These remnants form the focal point of the exhibition.
While walking through the exhibition and viewing the documents and objects, visitors get a feeling of what it meant to be Jewish in this part of Berlin. While taking a tour, prepare to be impressed by the huge dimensions of the former main hall of the synagogue and the open area behind the restored parts of the building. The earlier interior wall and the last remnants of the brickwork that were part of the original synagogue are protected by a glass and steel construction. The floor plan of the former main synagogue – shown in stone – is traced in the open area and shows the dimensions of the part that was destroyed, thus outlining the visible scars that history has wrought.
Length: about 2 hours
Meeting point: 9:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in front of PROLOG
Saturday 17.07.2010
Wannsee Beach
A soft, warm and sandy beach in the middle of Berlin. The Wannsee beach is the biggest open bathing area on a lake in Germany. Berlin’s bathtub was opened in 1907 and since then has remained very popular with the city’s residents. There’s a water slide, famous Strandkörbe (wicker beach chairs) and everything else you could possibly need for a great day out at the beach.. Have fun!
Length: about 4 hours
Meeting point: 1:00 p.m. at S-Bahnhof Nikolassee
Wednesday 21.07.2010
Sandsation
The SANDSATION is going to be sensational this year. Famous sand carvers from all over the world are coming to the capital to participate in the USF (United Sand Festivals) World Solo Championship. With works up to six meters high, the twelve artists are not only competing for the favour of the public but also to become world champion in sand carving. With a bit of friendly competition and mutual respect – the sand carvers work together to build a grand sculpture over eight meters high. Altogether there will be more than 30 international top-carvers at Berlin’s largest open-air gallery.
Length: 2 hours
Meeting point: 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in front of PROLOG
Samstag 24.07.2010
Hohenschönhausen
The Memorial at Hohenschönhausen
The infamous jail of the State Security Services (STASI) of former East Germany.
The site of the main remand prison for people detained by the former East German Ministry of State Security (MfS), or 'Stasi', has been a Memorial since 1994.
At the end of the Second World War, a Soviet Special Camp was set up on the grounds of a former canteen block and food store in the northeast of Berlin.
After the Camp was closed in October 1946, the central remand centre of the Soviet NKWD was housed in the cellar of the building.
In 1951 the Ministry for State Security (MfS) took over the remand centre, added a new building and used it as a central remand centre until 1989.
Thousands of political prisoners were held here, among them almost all of the known opposition to the GDR.
Since the vast majority of the buildings, equipment, furniture and fittings have survived intact, the Memorial provides a very authentic picture of prison conditions in the GDR.
The Memorial's location in Germany's capital city makes it the key site in Germany for victims of communist tyranny.
Length: about 3 hours
Meeting point: 10:45 a.m. at Alexanderplatz in front of the World Time Clock
Mittwoch 28.07.2010
Sammlung Berggruen
The Berggruen museum is located across from the Charlottenburg palace. The exhibition called "Picasso and his time" shows paintings, sculpture and drawings on three floors. Over 100 objects by Picasso make up the focus of the collection. You can see his works in all its facettes: from a drawing from his early studies in 1897 to his works in 1972.
The second focus of the collection is dedicated to 60 images from Paul Klee.
There are over 20 works from Henri Matisse, as well as a half dozen of the famous silhouettes
Length: about 2 hours
Meeting point: 9.30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in front of PROLOG
Saturday 31.07.2010
Rostock / Warnemünde
The old Hansa City on the Baltic Sea is a favourite tourist destination. After a walk through the historic old city, passing by the Kröpeliner Gate and the Fischerbastion, we continue on with the regional train to the beach in the idyllic town of Warnemünde. The Baltic Sea and its white sand invite you to stay a while and take a dip in the water.
Length: about 10-12 hours
Meeting point: 8:30 a.m. at the Berliner main station on platform 6 (Train information: Regionalexpress RE 33104 in the direction of Rostock)
International House Berlin PROLOG • D-10827 Berlin • Hauptstraße 23/24
+49 30 7811076 • • City Map & Route Planner
