Reichstag

The Reichstag is a historic parliamentary building in Berlin, Germany. It was constructed between 1884 and 1894 to house the Imperial Diet of the German Empire and was designed by architect Paul Wallot in a Neo-Renaissance style. The imposing brick-and-stone façade and central glass dome are among its defining features.

Throughout its history, the Reichstag served as the seat of government for successive German legislatures, including the Weimar Republic after World War I. In 1933, the Reichstag Fire and the subsequent emergency decrees helped propel the Nazi rise to power, culminating in the passage of the Enabling Act that gave Adolf Hitler’s government dictatorial authority. The building was badly damaged during World War II and fell into disuse and disrepair in the postwar era, remaining in West Berlin as a symbol of the divided city.

Following German reunification, the Reichstag underwent a major renovation led by British architect Norman Foster from 1994 to 1999. A prominent new feature was the glass dome, which provides daylight to the parliamentary chamber below and outlooks over Berlin, while also serving as a symbol of transparency in government. Since 1999, the Reichstag has again housed the Bundestag, the federal parliament of Germany, with the dome and terrace open to visitors.

The term Reichstag can refer both to the building itself and to the legislative body it houses. Today, the Reichstag stands as a key symbol of German democracy and reunification, combining historic architecture with modern design.