Originally planned by Friedrich II to become a square for science, art and politics, the Bebelplatz unfortunately has never been finished.
Under the reign of Friedrich, only the Opera House that is still there was built. The planned academy as well as the royal palace have never been constructed.
In 1933, the famous - but horrible - burning of books by the Nazis was carried out here.
Through a glass screen in the middle of the square, you can still see the underground place where this horrible event happened and 20,000 books were burnt.
Now, there are not only the Staatsoper Berlin and the catholic church St. Hewig at this historic square, but also the Humboldt-University Berlin and the Royal Library. Therefore the present design of the Bebelplatz actually follows the original idea of Friedrich II to unite science, art and politics at least to some extent.
