Portico of the destroyed Anhalter Station

The Portico of the destroyed Anhalter Bahnhof is the only fragment still standing of one of Europe's once-largest terminal stations. Built in 1880 by Franz Schwechten, the station was Berlin's gateway to the south - trains to Vienna, Rome and Athens departed here, with around 80 long-distance trains a day by 1939. Heavily damaged in World War II, the ruin was blown up in 1959 despite protests, because rebuilding was considered too expensive. Only the central section of the entrance facade with its three round-arched gates and remains of the Day and Night sculptures was left standing. Today the brick fragment stands alone on the grass of Askanischer Platz, opposite the former rail tracks - a quiet memorial to Berlin's lost rail heritage. The Tempodrom tent stands right behind it.