This is the central hall viewed
from the east. If we turn round 180 degrees, we can see the Spree
and the Marie-Elisabeth Lüders Building on the other side of
the river. The pedestrian bridge links the two buildings and
symbolises the reunification of East and West. Along this area was
where the wall used to run and during the Cold War boats were made
to wait here so that anyone attempting to flee East Berlin by
clinging to the hull would have to come up for air. In front of the
window to the right is a bust of Paul Löbe (President of the
Reichstag from 1924 to 1932). As on the west façade, wide
stairways on both sides go all the way up to the top floor.