42th BERLIN-MARATHON 2015 – A sightseeing tour through Berlin

The course of the 2015 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON provides almost a complete sightseeing tour of the capital. During their 42.195 km race run-ners pass a large number of Berlin's best known landmarks.

About one million spectators will line the course and all sorts of live music is played at 80 locations along the route. The 70-metre tall victory column (Siegessäule) is the first Berlin landmark along the course. It will be circled by the runners after just half a kilometre. The Siegessäule has a viewing platform for tourists.

The Bundeskanzleramt (Federal Chancellery) and Reichstag, which houses the Bundes-tag (German Parliament), will be passed after 6.5 km.The Schöneberg City Hall is reached soon after half way at 23.5 km. It used to be the seat of the West Berlin Senate.

And it was here where former US-president John F. Kennedy said the famous words: "Ich bin ein Berliner". (I am a Berliner).

The roundabout at Wilder Eber ("The Wild Boar") is traditi-onally a highlight along the course. In this noble Berlin residential area, thousands of spectators and a samba band assure great atmosphere (28 km). The course passes a good kilometre along the famous boulevard Kurfürstendamm where the masses of spectators line the course (34 km). From 1981 to 2002, the finish was on the Kurfürstendamm.

The Gedächtnis-Kirche (Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church) at 35 km is one of the most important landmarks in Berlin. Destroyed in World War II, the church partially stands in ruins as a memorial.

At kilometre 38 runners pass the National Gallery and the Philharmonie ("Philharmonic Orchestra of Berlin"/both on the left). Soon after that Potsdamer Platz and the Sony Center are reached. Shortly after the 41 km point the runners get to Unter den Linden boulevard where they pass the 42 km mark before reaching the Pariser Platz and the Brandenburg Gate.

This is the most famous spot in Berlin. The Berlin Wall used to stand here between East and West.

Source: BERLIN-MARATHON 2015 – Marathon Magazine