Berliner Fernsehturm and the steel sphere above Berlin
Published on 09/24/2026 at 03:32 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Berliner Fernsehturm rises above Alexanderplatz with a concrete shaft, a steel sphere and an antenna reaching 368 m (1,207 ft). Completed in 1969, the tower remains a visible part of Berlin’s skyline and a building whose form can be read from streets across the city.
The sphere that defines Berliner Fernsehturm
The tower’s most recognisable feature is the large sphere set high above the shaft. Below it, a slender reinforced-concrete column rises from the ground; above it, the antenna continues the vertical line.
The contrast between the narrow shaft and the metallic sphere gives Berliner Fernsehturm its distinctive outline. The viewing areas and restaurant occupy the sphere, while the tower’s broadcasting role is expressed through the mast above it.
Hermann Henselmann and the GDR capital
The original design came from East German architect Hermann Henselmann. Planning and construction involved several architects and engineering teams, including Fritz Dieter, Günter Franke and Werner Neumann. Hermann Henselmann’s design established the tower’s slender profile.
Construction took place between 1965 and 1969 in the German Democratic Republic. The tower was inaugurated on 3 October 1969, shortly before the twentieth anniversary of the GDR. Its original height was about 365 m, while a later antenna modification brought the total to 368 m.
Concrete, steel and a changing public meaning
The shaft is made from reinforced concrete, with steel forming the support structure of the sphere and antenna. Construction used climbing formwork, with the concrete shaft rising around an internal steel framework.
Berliner Fernsehturm began as a broadcasting facility for GDR television and radio. Its public meaning changed after German reunification, when the tower became associated with Berlin as a whole. the tower’s 1969 inauguration belongs to the city’s divided history, while its silhouette belongs to the reunited capital.
Visiting Berliner Fernsehturm: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Berliner Fernsehturm stands at Alexanderplatz in Berlin-Mitte. Berlin’s S-Bahn, U-Bahn, tram and regional rail services connect with Alexanderplatz station.
- The tower is a vertical building with lifts serving the observation areas high above the city. The public spaces include a viewing platform, the Sphere Bar and a revolving restaurant.
- Nearby landmarks include Berliner Rathaus, Museumsinsel, Berliner Dom, Unter den Linden and Hackesche Höfe.
- The official language is German and the currency is the euro.
Searching for Berliner Fernsehturm on social platforms
These links open searches for Berliner Fernsehturm on each platform.Frequently asked questions about Berliner Fernsehturm
Where is Berliner Fernsehturm?
Berliner Fernsehturm stands beside Alexanderplatz in Berlin-Mitte, close to the historic centre of Berlin.
What can visitors expect inside?
The public areas include an observation platform, a bar and a revolving restaurant inside the sphere above the concrete shaft.
What makes the tower distinctive?
Its defining combination is a slender reinforced-concrete shaft, a high steel sphere and an antenna reaching 368 m (1,207 ft).
