Bebelplatz (Bebel Square), Berlin

Formerly and colloquially still referred to as Opera Square, this spot in the central Mitte district of Berlin bears the name of August Bebel, a 19th-century founder of the Social Democratic Party of Germany. The square consists of a green area to the east and an open area to the west of the State Opera House, to which it owes its prewar name.

The square was originally laid out between 1741 and 1743 under King Frederick II of Prussia, as part of his so-called Frederick's Forum plan. Due to opposition from his cousin, Frederick William, the plan was scaled down, and the square ended up smaller than initially intended. Still, it was surrounded by notable buildings such as the State Opera, Saint Hedwig's Cathedral, and the Old Library. Originally named Opera Square, it was renamed Kaiser Franz Josef Square in 1910 in honor of the Austrian Emperor’s 80th birthday.

Unfortunately, in the 20th century, this square became eternally ill-famed as the site of one of the most infamous attempts to erase knowledge in the history of mankind. Here, on the evening of 10 May 1933, the nationalist German Student Association burned around 20,000 books that they deemed objectionable from the university library. Whipped up into a frenzy by the Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels' speech, members of the Nazi Students' League, SA, SS, and Hitler Youth set ablaze the works by renowned authors like Heinrich Mann, Erich Maria Remarque, Karl Marx, and Albert Einstein.

The "Empty Library" poignant memorial – consisting of a glass-enclosed view into an underground chamber with empty bookshelves – created by Micha Ullman, at the heart of the square, commemorates the event. Nearby, is a prophetic quote from Heinrich Heine, warning that where books are burned, people will eventually be burned too.

Heavily damaged during World War II, the square was renamed Bebel Square in 1947 and fully restored in the 1950s. Today, the layout of Bebel Square remains largely unchanged, with many of its historical buildings reconstructed, preserving the architectural legacy of the 18th century. These include the swanky Hotel de Rome.

Visiting in the evening or late afternoon is recommended, as the illumination enhances the visibility of the memorial on the ground, reminding of the profound consequences of intolerance and hatred.