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Disclaimer: Entering lost places can be dangerous. This article is not a recommendation for action but has a purely informative character. No liability is assumed..

Once upon a time... Glory and splendor at the Haidemühl glassworks

The first glassworks in Haidemühl was built in 1835 by the glass manufacturer Greiner. Here hollow glasses, lampshades, and perfume glasses were produced. Several changes of owners followed, bankruptcy, reconstruction, cessation of operations due to the war, and finally modernization in the 1960s. At that time, the Haidemühl glassworks was considered one of the most modern plants in the GDR. Around 1280 people had their jobs here. Only here were the 0.5-liter milk bottles produced from 1971 on, which were on almost every breakfast table at that time. They were even exported to the West. Around 345,000 bottles are said to have rolled off the production line here every day.

After reunification, the Treuhand took over the plant and sold it to an investor from the West. However, nothing was invested here. On the contrary, the machines were sold and production was stopped shortly after, in 1992. The fate of the glassworks was not an isolated case at that time. Many companies in the former GDR suffered a similar fate. And many of them did not clean up their act, leaving contaminated sites and waste in place. Environmental scandals were often only uncovered many years later.

Birch Trees and Tons of Potassium Carbonate

I continue walking and come to a large hall. The birch trees have already taken root here. They are not choosy, they grow as pioneer plants almost everywhere. Under the leaky roof of the hall, countless bags of potassium carbonate from Taiwan (Taiwan Pulp & Paper Co.) and South Korea (Korea Potassium Chemical Co. Ltd.) are piled up. Each container holds 1,000 kilograms. Many have burst open over time and the powder is spread across the floor of the hall. Where the hall roof has collapsed, moss is growing on the white powder. Next to it lie holey bags full of broken glass. No, the birch trees are really not picky.

On the walls of the warehouse, a few colorful graffiti bring color and cheerfulness to the gray drabness of the glassworks. I hope the sprayers didn't inhale any powder dust. Because potassium carbonate can cause severe irritation of the respiratory tract. The eyes are also attacked by the corrosive dust. The safety data sheets advise wearing gloves and a respiratory mask when working with potassium carbonate.

Potassium carbonate - use and effect

Potassium carbonate is also known as potash. As a leavening agent, it is a traditional ingredient, especially for Christmas cookies. Here at the Haidemühl glassworks, it was used as a flux in glass production. With the help of the flux, the melting temperatures of burnt lime (2500 °C) and quartz sand (1700 - 2000 °C) are reduced to around 1450 °C, the normal operating temperature in the glass furnace, thus saving energy.

Potassium carbonate can be corrosive in contact with the skin. Safety data sheets warn of severe skin, eye, and respiratory irritation in humans. The same probably applies to the mucous membranes of animals that venture too close.

The powder should be stored in tightly closed containers in a dry place. It must be prevented from entering the sewage system, surface and groundwater, and soil. Potassium carbonate is very soluble in water. The solution reacts alkaline by forming hydroxide ions. No ecotoxicological effects are known from potassium carbonate itself. Biological effects are mainly caused by the increase in the pH value in the water. This is because pH is a very important regulator of chemical and biological processes. Strongly acidic and alkaline conditions can have toxic effects on organisms. For example, an excessively high pH value can convert ammonium present in the water into ammonia, which is toxic to fish.

Nothing is happening

UPDATE, Nov. 2023: The site has now been fenced off and the steel containers in the entrance area have been removed.

But why are the contaminated sites at the Haidemühl glassworks still gathering dust after 30 years?  

A year after the Haidemühl glassworks ceased operations, it was decided that the factory site and the surrounding settlement should make way for open-cast lignite mining. The inhabitants of the settlement were relocated long ago. LEAG, which operates the Welzow-Süd open-pit lignite mine and also wants to mine lignite here, has not yet been able to complete the purchase. Depending on the source, the reason is unclear ownership or different ideas about the purchase price.

For the municipality of Welzow, the property has long been an abomination. In response to my inquiry, the mayor assured me that the municipality "has been doing everything in its power for years to eliminate these desolate conditions, which are difficult to accept. We are in constant exchange with all parties involved. The mining company is struggling to find a solution that will hopefully lead to a proper and professional disposal of the contaminated sites in the next few years."   

Between the halls, the trees have already reached a stately size after 30 years. It doesn't seem to bother them that their roots have to find their way between broken glass. The glass bottles still glow after 30 years when the sun shines on them. Most of them are green. Only now and then do I see transparent glass bottles. Moss grows inside them, slowly but surely turning them green.

Book Recommendations for Lost Places and abandoned Places in Berlin and worldwide

You want to discover more Lost Places? Then I have three book recommendations for you. You can order the books with a click on the pictures at Amazon. If you buy a book or another article via an affiliate link, I get a small commission and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. The product will not be more expensive for you.

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Recommendations for further Reading

Do you love abandoned places as much as I do? Then take a look at my two articles below:

Chernobyl - Photography against Oblivion

Deception Island - Lost Place in Antarctica

Der Beitrag Lost Place Glashütte Haidemühl: Birken, Glas und Kaliumcarbonat erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

Berlin. Monumental propaganda buildings, boulevards and prefabricated buildings. A walk from Alexanderplatz along Karl-Marx-Allee to Frankfurter Tor is a discovery tour in the footsteps of the GDR. In addition to the magnificent showpieces of socialism, you will find old advertising signs, fountains, mosaics or small hidden details on the facades of the houses. In the following article I take you on a tour through Berlin and show you a few impressive examples of GDR architecture.

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TV Tower at Alexanderplatz

I don't think there are as many different souvenirs of any building in Berlin as there are of the TV Tower at the Alex: magnets, pencil sharpeners, cuddly TV towers, liquor bottles, cookie cutters and much more. Nothing that does not exist. It's hard to imagine the city without Berlin's tallest landmark, the 368 meter tower. You can see it from so many corners towering through the rows of houses, pointing the way. And when planes could still land at the inner-city Tegel Airport, it welcomed incoming passengers from afar.

Photo tip: From the roof terrace of the Park Inn Hotel opposite you have a great view of the tower.

TIP: How about breakfast in the restaurant at 203 meters above sea level*? The restaurant rotates once an hour and you have a fantastic view of the city. Or perhaps you'd prefer the three-course menu in the evening*?

Address: Panoramastrasse 1A

World Time Clock

The world time clock at the Alex is not only a popular meeting place, but also a great photo motif. Either in its entirety or just a section of the hour ring with the planetary system as a crown. There are no limits to your creativity here. For example, the TV tower can be used as a background. And since there are always a lot of people around the clock, street photographers also get their chance here. 

Address: Alexanderplatz 1

"Nuttenbrosche" - Fountain of Friendship between Peoples

There are always so many people sitting on the wall around the fountain that you usually don't see the beautiful enamel work by Walter Womacka in the middle of the fountain. Therefore my tip: go to the Alex on a Sunday morning to take pictures. Then the light is the most beautiful and you can choose your motifs in peace.

By the way, the fountain of friendship built in 1970 is also affectionately called "hooker brooch" which means as much as brooch of prostitutes.

Address: Alexanderplatz 9

Berlin Congress Center

The Berlin Congress Center (BCC), together with the neighboring Haus des Lehrers (House of Teacher), forms a listed ensemble on Alexanderplatz. Both buildings were constructed in the early 1960s during the complete reconstruction of Alexanderplatz, which was destroyed during World War II. The nearby Haus des Reisens (House of Travel) and the Haus der Statistik (House of Statistics) were also part of the redevelopment plan at the time and were built around the same time.

After about three years of construction, the Haus des Lehrers and the Congress Center opened on September 9, 1964. At that time, the People's Chamber of the GDR met in the center, which was equipped with state-of-the-art technology and seating for over 1,000 people. But when the Palace of the Republic opened in 1976, the People's Chamber moved to the even more modern and prestigious building next to Berlin Cathedral.

After reunification, the building ensemble was finally sold and renovated for around 15 million euros. In the process, the entire technology was renewed and 23 event rooms with up to 2,500 seats were created.

Address: Alexanderstraße 11

House of the Teacher with Walter Womacka Mosaic

Around the House of the Teacher stretches the wide mosaic "Our Life" by the famous artist Walter Womacka. It represents the achievements of science in a Mexican style. The House of the Teacher is a superlative building not only because of the mosaic of millions of little stones: at that time, in 1964, it was the first high-rise building on Alexanderplatz.

TIP: The mosaic is difficult to photograph. Either you have falling lines or only a small section of the artwork in the picture. It is best to try to photograph it from further away with a telephoto lens.

Address: Alexanderstraße 9

House of Travel

The Haus des Reisens was opened in 1971. Today, the building with its extraordinary architectural details is listed as an example of international architecture of the 1970s. These beautiful details include the wave-shaped canopy and the copper relief "Man Overcomes Time and Space" by the artist Walter Womacka.

The 18-story House of Travel was home to the headquarters of the Travel Agency of the German Democratic Republic and offices of Interflug until German reunification. It also housed counters for air and train traffic, the central foreigners' service of the travel agency with the foreigners' registration service, and an exchange office of the Industrie- und Handelsbank.

TIP: On the 12th floor as well as on the roof terrace on the 15th floor, the Week End Club invites you to chill out and party.

Address: Alexanderstraße 7

House of Statistics

The House of Statistics was opened in 1970 as the headquarters of the GDR's State Central Administration for Statistics. It was built according to socialist ideals as part of the redevelopment of the war-damaged Alexanderplatz.

After German reunification, the Federal Statistical Office and the Federal Commissioner for Stasi Documents used the buildings. Since 2008, the buildings have stood empty. The Federal Republic of Germany, as the owner, already intended to demolish and sell the property. But in 2017, the Berlin Senate bought the ensemble of buildings at a price of 50 million euros.

Extensive refurbishment and conversion measures for mixed use for administration, culture, education, social services and housing are planned.

Address: Otto-Braun-Strasse 70-72

Café Moscow

Café Moskau is located directly opposite the Cinema International. At the time of the GDR, it was a nationality restaurant serving food from different peoples of the Soviet Union. It opened in 1964 and had more than 600 seats inside.

An eye-catcher to this day is the full-size model of the Sputnik satellite on the roof above the entrance. Below it, the large mosaic "From the Life of the Peoples of the Soviet Union" by the painter Bert Heller decorates the entrance area.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Treuhand took over the building, which was listed as a historical monument in 1990. After it stood empty for about ten years, various events were again held in the café from 2000. In 2007, the popular meeting place was then renovated in accordance with the preservation order and a new room concept, new building technology and a new glass facade were implemented.

The mosaic painting takes up the entire wall height in the entrance area. The detailed work of natural stone contains golden accents in some places. In the upper left corner of the mosaic you can also spot the Sputnik satellite.

Address: Karl-Marx-Allee 34

Cinema International

The large-capacity Cinema International opened in 1963 and hosted film premieres until 1990. The three-story reinforced concrete skeleton building appears light and airy. This impression is reinforced because the cinema hall cantilevers nine meters above the first floor without a single support and appears to float above it. With its large glass surface, the entrance area appears open and inviting.

In addition to the cinema hall, there were also other rooms, including a representation room. This is where the party leadership met after the premieres, which is why the room is called the "Honecker Lounge" today. There was also a library and even a small nuclear bunker in the basement.

Address: Karl-Marx-Allee 33

Former Mocha Milk Ice Cream Bar

The Mokka-Milch ice cream bar was planned as one of eleven analog pavilions. However, only five of these were actually realized in the early 1960s. In addition to the Mokka-Milch-Eisbar, these were the Madeleine fashion salon with the Interflor flower shop, the Babette beauty salon, Kunst im Heim and the Centrum shoe store. The flat hall buildings are all clad with yellow ceramic tiles on the outer facades and have an open gallery floor inside.

Together with the Kino International and Café Moskau, the five pavilions form an ensemble that blends into the surrounding residential complex. The ensemble originally included the Hotel Berolina behind the cinema. But this was demolished in 1996. A similar-looking high-rise building was built on the same site, which eventually housed the Mitte City Hall. All the buildings together are an extremely worth seeing example of GDR architecture in Berlin.

The Mocha Milk Ice Cream Bar soon achieved cult status and was especially popular with young people. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, however, the bar had to close. It was not until 1993 that the building reopened with the Alberts restaurant and the A-Lounge nightclub. At Alberts, you could even try classic eastern dishes, such as ragout fin of veal, cold dog, sausage goulash or steak au four. But in 2019, Alberts, and with it the last restaurant in the pavilions, closed its doors.

In May 2018, plans were presented according to which the five built pavilions will be completed in the future.

Address A-Lounge: Karl-Marx-Allee 35

Long tested and much loved: my three companions on photo tours: the lightweight carbon tripod CT-5C I from Rollei*, the cleaning kit from Rollei*and my indestructible camera backpack, the Flipside from Lowepro*.

"Floating Ring" at Strausberger Platz

In the middle of Strausberger Platz, which was redesigned at the end of the 1960s, stands the "Schwebender Ring" fountain designed by Fritz Kühn. Built in 1966, the fountain takes its name from the monumental decorative ring that is held in suspension by several posts in the center of the fountain. The ring consists of 16 rectangular relief panels showing combinations of diamond and pyramid shapes. Each relief also shows a different combination. The water fountain in the center of the ring reaches a height of up to 18 meters. In addition, the ring is surrounded by smaller water fountains. Due to the spray of water, the pillars supporting the ring are barely visible, making it appear as if the ring is floating.

Address: Strausberger Platz center island

Karl Marx Bust

The southeastern edge of Strausberger Platz has been adorned since 1983 by a bronze Karl Marx bust about one meter tall.

Address: Strausberger Platz

Workers' Palaces and GDR Architecture of Karl-Marx-Allee

As part of the National Reconstruction Program, a boulevard was to be built as a showpiece of the capital. The plan was to create a prestigious avenue with magnificent "workers' palaces". The buildings were to be a symbol of the GDR's strength and engineering skills. From my point of view this was completely successful, the buildings are great examples of GDR architecture in Berlin.

The boulevard is wider than average over a length of two kilometers. This provided enough space for parades and marches. The street is lined with five large-scale workers' palaces with up to 13 floors.

The architectural style is based on Socialist Classicism as well as Berlin Classicism. Thus, antique forms can be found in many places, such as Doric or Ionic columns or ornamental gables with friezes. The tower buildings at Strausberger Platz and Frankfurter Tor are the architectural highlights of Karl-Marx-Allee and are reminiscent of a city gate.

The western end of the square is formed by the two 14-story high-rise buildings "Haus des Kindes" (House of Children) and "Haus Berlin". At the time, Haus des Kindes housed apartments, a puppet theater, a kindergarten, a children's department store and a children's café. Haus Berlin housed restaurants, cafés and also a bar on the lower and upper floors.

Name salad
The new boulevard was renamed Stalinallee to celebrate Stalin's 70th birthday on December 21, 1949. After Stalin's death, it was given the name Karl-Marx-Alleein the course of de-Stalinization on November 13, 1961. The section of Stalinallee to the east of the Frankfurter Tor was renamed Frankfurter Allee.

Address: Karl-Marx-Allee

Cinema Kosmos

The large-capacity Kosmos cinema was opened on October 5, 1962. It was the largest cinema in the GDR with 1001 seats and was used as a premiere cinema. After the German reunification, the cinema was finally taken over by UFA and converted into a multiplex cinema with 3400 seats in 1996. In 2005, however, cinema operations were discontinued. Since March 2006, Kosmos has been used for conferences, evening events, special cinema screenings and as a theater.

While the surrounding buildings of the Karl-Marx-Alle are built in the "Zuckerbäcker" style, the Kosmos cinema with its smooth facade and curved surfaces resembles more the congress hall built at the same time in West Berlin. The façade of the foyer with its colorful stones made of glazed ceramics is particularly striking.

Address: Karl-Marx-Allee 131A

Café Sybille

Café Sibylle opened in 1953 under the name Milchtrinkhalle and was renamed Milchbar a short time later. In the 1960s, the Milchbar was renamed again to Café Sybille. The name was taken from the women's magazine Sybille, which was popular in the GDR at the time. The café developed into a showpiece and popular meeting place. But when the fall of the Berlin Wall came, it was closed, like so many other establishments.

In the early 2000s, Café Sybille reopened under the same name. It is still much more than just a café, however. For it also houses an exhibition about the history of the former Stalin and later Karl Marx Allee.

Also on display are numerous everyday objects from the GDR of the 1950s and 1960s, as well as an ear and a piece of beard from the Stalin monument that stood on Stalinallee in the 1960s.

Address: Karl-Marx-Allee 72

Paulick Candelabra

Architect Richard Paulick designed the two- and four-armed Paulick candelabras especially for Stalinallee in the early 1950s. A total of 215 Paulick candelabras adorn today's Karl-Marx-Allee. Due to severe damage caused by corrosion of the steel reinforcements and concrete spalling, the candelabras were replaced by replicas of the same shape in 2008 and 2009.

Book Recommendations for GDR Architecture

Want to know even more about GDR architecture and discover new photo locations in Berlin and the former GDR? Then I have a lot of inspiration for trips and photo tours for you. You can order the books easily at Amazon by clicking on the pictures. If you buy a book or another article via an affiliate link, I get a small commission and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. The product will not be more expensive for you.

Did you like the photo tour DDR architecture in Berlin? Do you have any questions or suggestions about my article? If yes, then write me a comment!

Do you want to know when there are new articles on my blog? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I would also be very happy if you share my article with your friends.

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More Architecture Articles to read

You want to discover more architectural gems? How about a Photo Tour in "Elektropolis" - Industrial Architecture in Berlin Schöneweide or a Journey through Time to the socialist planned city of Eisenhüttenstadt??

Der Beitrag DDR Architektur in Berlin: Fototour vom Alexanderplatz zum Frankfurter Tor erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

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Hiking in the Schönower Heide

You can discover the Schönower Heide on two different circular trails: on the 1.6 kilometer long Heidepfad or on the longer 5 kilometer long Wildwanderweg.The latter leads once around the fenced grazing area. There are numerous information boards along both paths that provide information about the historical development of the area, the shape of the landscape, and typical plants and animals of the Schönow Heath. In some places you can even discover evidence of the former military use, such as remains of bunkers, old tires, metal pipes or a rusty traffic sign.

Since this is a former military training area, off the trails still lie dangerous ordnance. Therefore, leaving the paths is prohibited. However, there are several trails that lead across the heath landscape, which is surrounded by the heath path. Here you can see the sand dune landscape particularly well.

At a Glance

Route: Wildwanderweg 5.0 km; Heidepfad 1.6 km
Can be combined with: Hobrechtsfelder Rieselfelder
Size of the nature reserve: about 533 ha
Highlights: Wildlife watching, heath blossoms, inland dunes
Facilities: two barrier-free lookout points, two picnic areas, several wooden benches, information boards and heath quiz
Best time: worthwhile all year round; best during the heath blossom (mid-August to mid-September)

TIP: You don't want to walk everything? Then you can also ride your bike on the gravel paths.

Viewpoints

From two small, filled-in mountains, the view opens up over the dry grassland and broom heath areas of the fenced-in nature reserve. The lookouts are both barrier-free and also offer a shelter with seating. You will reach the first lookout after only a few minutes of walking on the Heidepfad. Not far from this one is a watering hole, and there are also food troughs and salt licks set up for the animals. The chances of wildlife sightings are therefore particularly good here. If you walk the wildlife trail, then you should not miss this lookout mountain in any case and hike the bow with. The second lookout mountain is located on the Wildwanderweg.

TIP: When from mid-August to mid-September the flowering heather becomes a dense purple carpet, a visit is particularly worthwhile.

Emergence of a special Habitat

Originally, the landscape of Schönower Heide was characterized by mixed deciduous forests. At that time, the forests were used for timber production and as forest pasture. As a result of this use, a vegetation rich in mosses and lichens developed over time. Later reforestation measures in the 19th century finally resulted in an extensive pine forest area around Schönow.

At the end of the 19th / beginning of the 20th century, Berlin purchased land for the establishment of a city estate and for the creation of trickle fields. The purchased land included parts of the Schönower Heide, areas of which were soon used as a military training area. First it was used by the troops of the imperial army, then by the Reichswehr and finally, in GDR times, by the Soviet armed forces. At this time, another 125 hectares of forest were cleared and buildings, shelters and paths were constructed. The use of heavy combat vehicles as well as frequent fires kept the area free of overgrowth and promoted the formation of today's heath landscape.

After the German reunification, the area was no longer used as a military training area. A development of the area is problematic due to the still existing explosive ordnance contamination. In addition, it is a biotope worthy of protection, albeit man-made. In 2000, Schönower Heide was designated as a nature reserve and FFH area. Buildings were built back and paths for visitors were created. Various measures are intended to ensure the preservation of the heath areas and this very special habitat. The most important measure is the grazing by wild animals. For this purpose, fallow deer, mouflon and red deer were released in 2009 in a fenced area of about 140 hectares.

Wildlife Grazing in Schönower Heide

The open and dry landscape of the Schönower Heide is home to numerous rare species. However, if nature were left to its natural course, the heath landscape would quickly become overgrown and a forest would develop again. Many animals and plants that specialize in the dryness would thus lose their habitat.

Grazing with wild animals is intended to preserve the heath landscape. By eating, trodding and sweeping with their antlers, fallow deer, mouflon and red deer keep the landscape open. The animals were introduced here in the summer of 2009 and live year-round in a fenced-in area of about 140 hectares. This is a very close-to-nature and also favorable form of management. Mechanical methods, such as mowing, bush clearing or even burning off vegetation, can therefore be largely dispensed with. 

The "University for Sustainable Development Eberswalde" and the "Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin" accompany the grazing project scientifically.

TIP: A trip to Schönower Heide is especially beautiful, if you can also see animals. It's best to take binoculars with you, such as the handy and even waterproof Zeiss Terra ED 8×42**.

Fauna and Flora

On the area of the Schönower Heide grow broom heath, sandy meadows as well as pioneer woods like birch, pine, juniper and quaking aspen. In addition to sandy areas with silver grass and reindeer lichen, there are open inland dunes and, in the northeast, a depression overgrown with tall shrubs and grass. Typical species also include the sharp wall-pepper and the sand-strawflower.

Many heat-loving animal species live in the dry site of Schönower Heide, such as the sand lizard, butterflies, sand beetles, wild bees or grasshoppers. So far, 61 bird species have been recorded here. Species such as the nightjar, the woodcock, the great grey shrike or the hoopoe are particularly noteworthy. In spring and summer the song of the lark can be heard almost everywhere in the area. And with a little luck, you may also be able to make out the distinctive "whup-whup" of the hoopoe.

TIP: The hoopoe flies most often in the evening hours. Then you have a good chance to see one on the Schönower Heide.

TIP: Have you ever seen a nightjar ? There are some living here, in the nature reserve Schönower Heide. However, since they are perfectly camouflaged, they are hard to spot. But maybe you can hear them in the evening hours in spring. I've been to the lookout twice in the dark and could hear their buzzing song clearly both times.

How to get there

The nature reserve Schönower Heide is located north of Berlin, just beyond the city limits. If you arrive by car, you can park on a large parking lot on the left and right side of the Schönwalder Chaussee (L30) between Schönow and Schönwalde. Here you will also find the large entrance portal with hiking map and site plan.

The best way to get there by public transport is to take the S-Bahn to Zepernick. From here you can take the bus line 900 direction Bernau to the station Zepernicker Straße. From there it is about 700 meters to the entrance of the Schönower Heide. Bus 900 leaves every hour on the weekend. If you have missed the bus, then it would be about 2.6 kilometers on foot to the entrance.

Book Recommendations for Animal Lovers

You want to know which animal you see? Then I can recommend the following books. You can order them with a click on the picture at Amazon. If you order a book via one of these affiliate links, I will even get a small commission and you will help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting reports and tips. The article will not be more expensive for you.

Did you like my excursion tip to the animals on the former military training area Schönower Heide? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I would also be very happy if you share my article with your friends. Do you have any questions or suggestions? If so, please write me a comment!

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More Nature Trips around Berlin

You want to discover even more nature? How about a Trip to the Döberitzer Heide near Berlin or a Walk along the Greenwichpromenade and in the Tegeler Forst?

Der Beitrag Schönower Heide – Wildwanderweg über ehemaligen Truppenübungsplatz erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

Linum. Linum is famous for its storks and resting cranes. Between April and August you can observe numerous storks on their nests in this village, which is also known as the "stork village". As soon as the storks have moved south, the cranes come to the Linum pond area. Thousands of these birds rest on the surrounding pond meadows and build up their energy for the onward flight. Walking trails lead between the ponds and from several observation towers a clear view opens up to the water areas. In the following article you will get tips for birdwatching around Linum.

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Birdwatching in the Pond Landscape Linum

The pond landscape near Linum is one of the largest resting areas in Central Europe during the bird migration season. The area includes about 240 hectares of water and large meadow areas. The ponds were created from peaty areas. Especially in autumn and spring, a walk and a longer stay on the observation towers is worthwhile. If you have a little patience and ideally a good pair of binoculars, you will be quickly rewarded. But even if you don't see the birds - you might hear them. You surely know how a cuckoo calls or an oriole sings. But do you know how a bittern or a bluethroat calls? Not yet? Then have a listen at Vogelstimmen.de.

Besides the birdsong, however, there is another sound that you can listen to here. Because in one of the ponds, the "Unkenteich", live red-bellied toads. They are hard to see, but their bell-like song is hard to miss. 

Attention, next to the paths grows in many places hogweed! Don't touch it, or you'll get a terrible rash. This is what it looks like:

With the Storks in the Stork Village Linum

Along the main road alone, I counted eight stork nests. But there are several more: up to 18 pairs of storks raise their young in Linum every year. The huge nests are perched high up on house roofs, chimneys or masts erected especially for the nests. From below, it initially looked as if the nests were not yet occupied at the beginning of May. But this is mistaken. It is only a little more difficult to see the storks in the nest, as they are sitting on the eggs.

The storks arrive in Linum from March to May and move south again in the second half of August.

In the village of Linum, not only the numerous stork nests are remarkable. Also the painted street lamps and the romantic brick houses give the place a special touch. Along the main street you can buy products from the region in several farm stores. And of course the cuddly stork is not to be missed. If you are hungry, you can either get a piece of cake and a coffee in the farm stores, or go straight to the Storchenklause or the Storchenhof for a meal.

Tip for the small hunger: Diagonally across from the parking lot on the street Zu den Teichen offers the "Teichland Linum" everything for the big and small hunger.

Linum as a Resting Place for Cranes

In autumn, the ponds and fields of Linum are home to hundreds of thousands of cranes and geese. The birds gather here before flying further south. With water only knee-deep, the ponds provide safe roosting places, and the vast fields of the Rhinluch hold plenty of food. It is particularly impressive when huge flocks fly to the feeding areas in the morning and back to the roosts in the evening. Then their loud typical call resounds far over the fields. The crane season lasts from mid-September to early November. At this time there is the possibility to take part in guided tours. But also on your own you can observe cranes from the road in the fields, especially harvested corn fields.

In 2020, 59,710 cranes were counted in one day at the end of October, and in 2018 the number was as high as 74,440 in one day. A small group of cranes even lives near Linum all year round.

Cranes are very shy birds and fly up quickly. Therefore, make sure you keep at least 300 to 400 meters distance. As soon as the animals look up or give their warning calls, you should withdraw. It is best to stay in your car or hide behind bushes or trees on the side of the road. Also, do not enter agricultural areas or closed field paths.

More information about the cranes near Linum can be found here.

Tip: The best time to photograph cranes is in the morning and evening hours. If you want to see cranes up close, it's best to use binoculars or a spotting scope. By the way, my favorite binoculars are the handy Zeiss Terra ED 8×42**.

Stork Smithy Linum

At the Stork Smithy , NABU provides information about storks, cranes and other wildlife around Linum. A webcam even offers live views of a stork nest. Of course, it is especially beautiful to look at when the chicks have hatched from around mid-May.

The Storchenschmiede offers guided tours to the stork nests and to the Linum ponds as well as changing exhibitions. You can walk through the show garden and learn about regional, seasonal vegetables and also take home a vegetable box. Afterwards you can enjoy cakes, ice cream and coffee in the smithy café.

Address: Nauener Str. 54
Opening hours: Wednesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and holidays 12 to 6 p.m.; closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Bird Nests at the Rhinluch Nature Conservation Station

Across the street from the village church is the Rhinluch Nature Conservancy. The old brick school building provides nesting habitat for numerous birds. House martins have built their shell-shaped nests of clay under the eaves. However, many are damaged or have been occupied by sparrows. Unfortunately, magpies also know about the nests and we could observe how a magpie robbed one of the nests. On the gable end of the house there are also several holes where jackdaws breed and even for the kestrel there is a nesting opportunity.

Interesting Facts about the White Stork

The stork has adapted to humans as a cultural follower and often builds its nests on house roofs, chimneys or towers. In the 20th century, the population declined sharply due to habitat loss in Europe. Cleared field corridors make foraging increasingly difficult. There is a lack of hedges, flowering strips, small bodies of water and thus suitable habitats for insects, amphibians and thus also for storks.

Through various protection measures as well as renaturation of wetlands and reintroduction projects, the population in Europe has recovered.

Stork profile
Size: 80 - 100 cm
Wingspan: up to 220 cm
Weight: 3 to 4 kg
Age: up to over 30 years
Conservation status: In the IUCN list, the white stork has been classified as "not endangered" since 1994. However, it is still considered endangered in the Red List of Breeding Birds of Germany.

Young storks eat mainly earthworms and insects, as soon as they are bigger also frogs and mice. They fledge at the age of nine weeks. In August, the young storks set off for Africa, starting two weeks before the adults. Getting there

Getting there

Getting there by car: From Berlin, take the A10 and then the A24 to the Kremmen exit. From there it is about 15 minutes on the country road to Linum. You can park either at the Straße der Jugend or Zu den Teichen.

Book Recommendations for Birdwatchers

You want to know who is flying and singing? Then I can recommend the following books. You can order them with a click on the picture at Amazon. If you order a book via one of these affiliate links, I will even get a small commission and you will help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting reports and tips. The article will not be more expensive for you.

Did you like my excursion tip to the storks at Linum? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I would also be very happy if you share my article with your friends. Do you have any questions or suggestions? If so, please write me a comment!

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More Nature Trips around Berlin

You want to discover even more nature? How about a Trip to the Döberitzer Heide near Berlin or a Walk along the Greenwichpromenade and in the Tegeler Forst?

Der Beitrag Störche, Kraniche & Co – Birdwatching rund ums “Storchendorf” Linum erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

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Highlights of the Photo Tour of Industrial Architecture in Berlin Schöneweide

• Brick romanticism and "Oberschöneweider Klinker" in neo-Gothic and neo-Renaissance style
• Morbid charm of the vacant buildings
• Large window fronts and steep views
• Many details, old signs, writings, doors and reliefs
• Crane runway and crane house

Route to the Industrial Architecture in Berlin Oberschöneweide

Getting there

The best way to get there is to take the S-Bahn to Schöneweide. The station building is already a nice introduction to the photowalk, because it is also built of bricks and currently also exudes a slightly morbid charm (construction work is being carried out).

At the end of the tour, you can take the streetcar line 60 or 67 in Wilhelminenhofstraße and be back at the Schöneweide S-Bahn station in a few minutes.

Here you can jump directly to the individual industrial sites:

#1 Bärenquell Brewery
#2 Treskow Bridge
#3 Spreehöfe
#4 Rathenau Halls
#5 Reinbeckhallen and Industrial Salon
#6 Oberspree Power Station and Transformer Station
#7 Oberspree Cable Plant (KWO) and University Campus
#8 Crane Runway and Crane Cafe
#9 Peter Behres Building
#10 Batteries and Accumulators Factory

When is the best Time for a Photo Tour?

A Sunday is the best time for a tour of Berlin's industrial architecture. That's when there's the least traffic and you have peace and quiet for a relaxed search for motifs. The tour is interesting after an extensive rain, because then the buildings are reflected in the water surfaces. In addition, a rather soft light with cloudy sky is suitable for the old brick buildings. This gives your photos a "moody look". When I was on the street, however, the sun came through and the sky was blue. I therefore helped a bit in the later post-processing of the photos and desaturated the blue. So the buildings come much better into their own.

Brief History of the Industrial Location Berlin Schöneweide

At the end of the 19th century, Berlin-Oberschöneweide became one of the most important urban factory districts in Germany. Under the leadership of the Allgemeine Elektrizitäts-Gesellschaft (AEG), Europe's first three-phase power plant, a modern cable factory and other electrical and automotive industry plants opened here. The waterfront location on the banks of the Spree, the proximity to the railroad, and the resident three-phase power plant made the area a perfect location. In addition, there was something here that was no longer available in the Berlin city center: space. Factories and production halls line up along the banks of the Spree River for about three kilometers like a string of pearls. The architects Peter Behrens, Osmar Klemm and Ernst Ziesel created a uniform-looking factory town here from the yellow Oberschöneweide clinker. "Elektropolis" was born.

Most of the factory buildings survived the two world wars unscathed. In GDR times, production continued here in Volkseigene Betriebe (VEB). With about 30,000 employees, Oberschöneweide was an important center of the energy industry at that time. With the fall of the Berlin Wall, however, most of the jobs were lost and the cathedrals of labor lost their significance. Today, some of the buildings are still empty. Of the long-established companies, only the Kabelwerk still produces in part of the halls originally used, as well as BAE Batterien GmbH. They are joined by a number of start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises as well as artists and creative people. Since 2009, parts of the old cable factory have been used by the Berlin University of Applied Sciences. For other factory halls, such as the Rathenau Hallen, development for a new use is also planned in the near future.

Tip: However, the history of Berlin's industrial companies also has its dark sides. The Documentation Center for Nazi Forced Labor in Niederschöneweide is a reminder of these. Address: Britzer Strasse 5.

#1 Bärenquell Brewery

The first stop on the photo tour of industrial architecture in Berlin Schöneweide is the former Bärenquell Brewery. Beer was brewed here as early as 1882 at the Borussia Brewery. In 1898, the Borussia brewery was then bought by Schultheiss-Brauerei AG. During the GDR era, the six East Berlin breweries continued to operate as VEB Berliner Brauereien from 1959. The former Borussia brewery was then given the new name Bärenquell-Brauerei. After reunification, the Treuhand took over the company in 1990 and privatized it. Production continued for another four years and finally ceased on April 1, 1994. Since its closure, the site has changed hands several times. So far, there are no concrete plans for a new use and development. Instead, vandalism, theft and decay characterize the historic buildings.

The oldest buildings on the brewery grounds are the officials' residence (1882) and the administration building (1888). Both date back to the time of the Borussia brewery. Most of the other buildings were only erected between 1901 and 1928. The newest building is the New Brewhouse from 1969. All buildings are made of red brick, but in different architectural styles. One can find elements of Neo-Renaissance, Neo-Gothic with castle-like construction, Expressionism as well as Modernism. The old brewery has been a listed building since the 1980s.

Unfortunately, the area is not accessible, fenced with barbed wire and also video monitored. But there are some nice photo opportunities from the outside as well.

Address: Schnellerstraße 136 - 137

#2 Treskow Bridge

The Treskow Bridge is not an industrial building in itself, but you have a good view of the Spreehöfe and the Rathenau Hallen. Here you can live out your creativity and discover many interesting perspectives (see cover picture).

The first Treskow Bridge was opened in 1904. But already a few years later the bridge was no longer able to cope with the increasing traffic in the new industrial area Oberschöneweide. It was therefore replaced by a wider new bridge in 1934. Before the invasion of the Soviet troops, the German army finally blew up the Treskow Bridge and the neighboring Kaisersteg. It was not until 1954 that the sunken bridge parts were recovered from the Spree, processed and used for the construction of a new bridge.

#3 Spreehöfe / Lamp Factory

The industrial monument Spreehöfe combines the buildings of the old lamp factory R. Frister and the former gasworks.

The lamp factory was built from 1897 to 1900 and structurally expanded until 1920. However, in 1934 the lamp factory had to stop its production. Since then, the buildings have been used by a number of other companies, such as Metals Processing Schöneweide, the Society for Aviation Supplies, the VEB RFT Funkwerk Köpenick and, most recently, the Institute for Communications Engineering.

In 1898, the Oberspree gas works was built on the land next to the lamp factory. For a time there was even a telescopic gas tank of the Gasag here. In 1909 and 1937, the land became partly the property of Allgemeine Deutsche Metallwerke Oberschöneweide (ADMOS) and was completely taken over by ADMOS in 1998. In addition to the gasworks, which was located here until 1993, various other factories also used the site on the banks of the Spree.

After the reunification of Germany, the Spreehöfe industrial park was created here after numerous conversions under the new owner ADMOS Immobilien. The courtyards comprise 32 buildings, some of which are listed as historic monuments.

Address: 63 Edisonstrasse at the corner of 87-90 Wilhelminenhofstrasse.

#4 Rathenau Hallen - the Entrance to Elektropolis

Together with the lamp factory, the Rathenau Halls form the entrance portal to "Elektropolis". Here you can also see one of the most striking buildings: the large transformer hall with the big red AEG letters on the gable. With a span of 35 m and a height of 22 m, the factory halls were once among the largest in Berlin.

There are endless photo motifs on the extensive property. In addition to the facades made of the yellow "Oberschöneweider Klinker" and glass fronts, it is the many small details that want to be discovered. Doors, windows, rusty grilles, lamps, switches, fire escapes as well as signs and inscriptions are great motifs.

As early as 1899, the tool and machine factory German Niles-Werke AG was established here on the banks of the Spree. In the 1920s, AEG bought the site and moved the transformer factory from Berlin's Wedding district to Oberschöneweide. Already in the same year, construction of the large transformer hall began according to plans by the architect Ernst Ziesel. Until the 1940s, AEG constructed numerous other buildings here, creating around 4,000 jobs. During World War II, searchlights and ammunition casings were manufactured here. About a third of the workers were forced laborers at the time. After the war, operations were then resumed as VEB Transformatorenwerk. Until reunification, 4,000 employees were employed here, producing transformers, high-voltage switches and fuses. After reunification, AEG leased the site. However, due to declining orders, the plant had to close in 1996.

The factory buildings are still rented out to artists, crafts businesses and retailers for interim use. But in 2019, the heritage-protected halls were purchased by Basecamp. The plan is now to develop them into a cultural and office location with accommodation, co-working, gastronomy and more. Work is expected to begin as early as 2021 and be completed in 2025.

Address: Wilhelminenhofstrasse 83

#5 Reinbeckhallen and Oberschöneweide Industrial Salon

From the Rathenau Halls, the tour continues to the neighboring Reinbeck Halls. The former AEG halls are now an art and cultural center with an exhibition hall, event hall, project space, and a woodworking and printing workshop. Artists and creative people have moved into studios on the site. In addition to an informative exhibition on industrial architecture in Berlin, the Industriesalon Schöneweide also offers guided tours of Oberschöneweide. At Café Schöneweile you can also enjoy drinks and snacks, either on site or directly on the banks of the Spree. From there you have the best view of the Kaisersteg, the halls of the Kabelwerk and the former Oberspree power plant.

Industrial Salon Schöneweide
Elektropolis Tour Fri. 14:00, Sun. 12:00
www.industriesalon.de/fuehrungen

#6 Oberspree Power Station and Transformer Station

The Oberspree Power Station was commissioned in 1897 as the first three-phase power station in Germany. Due to a higher current voltage, the electricity generated here could be efficiently transported over longer distances. This enabled AEG to bring electricity to households in Berlin as well as to the surrounding suburbs on a large scale. The power plant was a technical milestone at the time and also significantly promoted the development of the industrial location. The rapidly growing demand soon led to the expansion of the power plant.

The power plant was decommissioned in 1933 and the halls continued to be used by Kabelwerke Oberspree. The buildings, which like the neighboring industrial buildings are constructed of yellow clinker bricks, are now listed as historic monuments.

#7 Oberspree Cable Plant (KWO) and University Campus

Right next to the three-phase power plant, the Kabelwerk Oberspree (KWO) was opened in 1897. Here, cables, overseas lines as well as wires and insulation were manufactured. It was possible to dispense with the operation of steam power plants in the cable plant, because next door there was enough electricity for the use of new types of electric motors. At the time, the Oberspree cable plant was the most modern factory in Europe.But the factory was not only a highlight in technical terms. The yellow brick ensemble in neo-Gothic and neo-Renaissance stylewas also visually impressive. Today, the still preserved administrative and production buildings are listed as one of the most important ensembles of German industrial history.

Due to the good order situation, the factory premises were expanded by 62,000 m² in 1913 and new production halls were built. At the same time, the number of employees had risen to around 8,000 workers.

Fortunately, only parts of the cable plant were destroyed during the Second World War and production was subsequently resumed. In 1952, the plant became a state-owned enterprise (VEB) and was henceforth called VEB Kabelwerk Oberspree. After German reunification in 1990, the Treuhand took over the cable plant, followed two years later by a British company. But the demand was not sufficient and in 1995 cable production in Oberschöneweide ended. Today, cables are only produced in a small part of the factory. The largest part of the former factory, on the other hand, is used as a campus by the Berlin University of Applied Sciences.

Tip: Audio guides can be rented at the info point of the Wilhelminenhof campus, which present the grounds on a tour lasting about one hour. The MP3 files as well as the transcripts are also available for download here auch als Download.

Address: Wilhelminenhofstrasse 75 A

#8 Crane Runway and Crane House

Two special highlights of the Oberspree cable plant are the crane runway and the crane house on the banks of the Spree.

The old crane runway runs vertically between Wilhelminenhofstraße and the square at the Kaisersteg. Where the crane railroad ends at Wilhelminenhofstraße, the crane hook and the driver's cabin offer interesting motifs. The crane bar invites you next to the promenade under the old crane railroad for coffee, breakfast as well as snacks and cakes.

An equally interesting motif and cozy place to linger is the Crane House Café on the shore. Here you can find coffee specialties, cakes as well as delicious food in a cozy industrial style.

Addresses: Kranbar Wilhelminenhofstraße 80; Kranhauscafe Paul-Tropp-Straße 11

#9 Peter Behrens Building

The Peter Behrens Building was completed during World War I in 1917 after only two years of construction. The architect Peter Behrens set new standards with his modern multi-storey factory. For here, the separation of production, administration and public life was eliminated. Today, the building is considered a "monument to modern 20th century industrial culture in Berlin" and is therefore a listed building.

In 1901, the industrialist and founder of AEG, Emil Rathenau, founded the Neue Automobil-Gesellschaft AG (NAG). Not only cars and trucks were manufactured here, but also sports and luxury cars and the Berlin double-decker. During World War I, however, production was switched to war-related goods and the company was renamed the Nationale Automobil-Gesellschaft. In 1917, NAG finally moved into the new factory. The vehicles were produced here from top to bottom on the floors of the modern multi-storey factory. A total of 18 elevators with a load capacity of up to 6,000 kg were in use.

After automobile production ceased in 1934, the AEG subsidiary Telefunken moved in and produced radio tubes. During the GDR era, the Oberspreewerk manufactured television electronics here. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Samsung initially bought the building. Later, the next owner leased the space to various smaller businesses. In May 2019, Deutsche Immobilien Entwicklungs AG (DIE AG) finally purchased the site and plans to develop it.

Did you know? The Peter Behrens Building was a film location in the series Babylon Berlin.

The square tower is reminiscent of a town hall tower, which is why some call the building the "Town Hall of Oberschöneweide." Inside the tower, you enter a light-flooded staircase hall encircled by four-story arcades and surrounding galleries.

Tip: The Schöneweide industrial salon offers guided tours. This includes climbing the 70-meter-high tower with panoramic terrace, tower café and breathtaking views.

Address: Ostendstrasse 1-4

#10 Batteries and Accumulators Factory

In 1899, the Gesellschaft für elektrische Unternehmungen built the first factory buildings for the Akkumulatorenwerke Oberspree AG. Here, portable lead accumulators and batteries were produced on behalf of AEG.

Aktiengesellschaft (AFA) took over the factory and produced, among other things, vehicles with electric drives and charging stations. During the GDR period and also after German reunification, production continued at the plant, but now under the name BAE GmbH. Today, BAE Batterien GmbH still produces batteries and accumulators. And not only at the site in Oberschöneweide but in over 80 countries.

Part of the accumulator plant from the first construction phase in the 1890s is even still preserved and can be visited from the outside. This includes the administration building and the main entrance to the factory premises, as well as a single hall. Here you can discover beautiful details, such as an old clock, tracks, old inscriptions or even rusty rollers of a sliding gate. In Ostendstraße, you can also see a 125-meter-long, single-story factory building made of clinker bricks from the 1920s. Other preserved structures are administrative and social buildings, which were built only at the time of the German division.

Address: Wilhelminenhofstrasse 68 and 69 to Ostendstrasse 30-33.

Book Recommendations for more Industrial Architecture in Berlin and Germany

You want to know even more about industrial architecture in Berlin and all over Germany and discover new photo locations? Then I have a lot of inspiration for trips and photo tours in Berlin for you. You can order the books easily at Amazon by clicking on the pictures. If you buy a book or another article via an affiliate link, I get a small commission and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. The product will not be more expensive for you.

Did you like the photo tour through the industrial architecture in Berlin Schöneweide? Do you have any questions or suggestions regarding my article? If yes, then write me a comment!

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More Berlin articles to read on

You want to discover more of Berlin? How about Berlin's Lost Places or a trip to the Graffiti-Hochhäusern im Art Park Berlin-Tegel?

Der Beitrag Fototour in “Elektropolis” – Industriearchitektur in Berlin Schöneweide erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

Berlin. You want to discover the street art of Berlin on your own? Walk through the city at your own pace? Then you are right here. Because I have compiled for you a street art map for Berlin Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg. You will see a total of 32 murals on a route of about 14 kilometers. Some of them belong to the most famous of all Berlin, such as the Astronaut / Cosmonaut by Victor Ash or The Pink Man by the artist BLU.

Unassigned, unpaid advertising. The article contains affiliate links.

Street Art Map for Berlin Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg with 32 Murals

Length of the tour: about 14 kilometers
Duration: on foot about 4-5 hours
Start: Ostkreuz S-Bahn station
End: Underground station Gleisdreieck

Practical: In the Street Art Map you can see not only where the mural is located in Berlin. You can also see a small preview image and the exact address by clicking on it with the mouse. The tour starts on the far right. The tour ends at the bottom left.

Tip: The street art tour with the map through Berlin Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg can be perfectly combined with a visit to the RAW area and / or the East Side Gallery. And if you want to see more street art, you can continue from the end point at the subway station Gleisdreieck to the URBAN NATION Museum in Schöneberg.

Take a look from time to time. Because there are always new murals in Berlin, which I will then add to my street art map and here on the blog. Have fun with your tour, browsing and discovering.

Michelle Tombolini: Butterfly

The first mural in my Street Art Map Berlin is by Michelle Tombolini. The Venetian has pasted a butterfly child with big light blue wings as a paste-up on the wall. The girl's mouth is closed with a black cross. In a state of no self-expression, it triggers strong emotions in the viewer. The mural should be seen as a memorial against child pornography and human trafficking.

Butterfly is part of Tombolini's Indelible Marks project, which is dedicated to abused children. In his project, he combines art and technology to create a work of art that is both physical and virtual. On the sign at the bottom right there is also a reference to the free app "EXPERENTI". This allows you to interact directly with the artwork and the artist, the artwork transforms and there are also video messages on the subject. I haven't tried the app myself, so I can't tell you more at this point.

The silent cry of the butterfly girl is meant to challenge the indifference of adults. Child abuse calls for strong prevention and everyone should therefore feel responsible. The Italian branch of the international network ECPACT International has been working with Tombini since 2014. ECPACT works to protect children from exploitation.

Address: Krossener Strasse 36

Community Project – unknown Artist

The building in Kreutzigerstraße is one of the most colorful I have seen during my street art tour. It was created as a community project by the people who live here. That is, the pictures are not painted by a famous artist at all, but by the residents themselves.

Address: Kreutzigerstraße 19

Hall of Fame at the cinema Intimes

Small but nice. This applies both to the "Intimes" neighborhood cinema and to the Hall of Fame on the façade in Niederbarnimstraße. The artists use paste-ups, stickers and stencils to spread their political and socially critical messages. Some of them are very up-to-date, such as a red heart with a gold-colored mouth guard or a Corona Virus to cuddle with.

Address: Boxhagener Str. 107 / corner Niederbarnimstraße

By the way: The small cinema, founded in 1909, is the oldest continuously screened cinema in Berlin. It presents arthouse films and documentaries. The cinema was rebuilt in 2019/20 and reopened under a new operator after the lockdown in spring 2021.

Arsek Erase, HRVB the Weird: The Berlin Bomber

Since the beginning of 2000, Arsek and Erase have been on the road as a graffiti artist duo. Their works are mostly illustrative and surreal in nature. Typical for their murals are bright colors, fun as well as comic-like scenes influenced by nature and their surroundings. The Bulgarian artists realized "The Berlin Bomber" during the Berlin Mural Fest 2018. The bear riding on a yellow Berlin subway was additionally tattooed on the arm by the artist HRVB the Weird at the end.

Address: Warschauer Strasse 9

MTO: There's No Such Thing As Bad Publicity

The French artist Mateo Lepeintre aka MTO thematizes with his mural the use of street art for commercial purposes. But first a story: until 2015 there was a very famous mural on the Cuvry wasteland in Kreuzberg. It was three huge white figures with masks and golden watch handcuffs. Maybe you still know it. Painted by the famous Italian artist BLU in 2007, the mural was an extremely popular photo motif as well as a landmark of the embattled Cuvry wasteland. Because from 2015 apartments were to be built here. It is said that BLU had his work painted over with black paint. He wanted to make sure the system couldn't use his mural to sell apartments.

When MTO got its wall during the 2018 Mural Fest, a large scoreboard was already in place here. It's almost hard to tell, but the lowest of the yellow-framed panels is "real" and even lit with two lamps. He finally took this opportunity to denounce the use of street art murals for commercial purposes. It is well known that large-scale murals are attracting increasing interest from city councils and investors. That's because city- or brand-sponsored facade murals make lower-cost residential areas more attractive. Rents go up, street art tourists come, galleries open, and so on. MTO refuses this process and wants to fight against it. For this he shows openly political and contextual content in his murals.

Address: Warschauer Str. 58

One Truth: Swiss Knife

One Truth brothers Pase and Dr. Drax have painted a huge 25-meter-high wall near the East Side Gallery. The mural shows a large Swiss Army Knife with its feet covered in graffiti by local artists. One Truth plays on the stereotype of Switzerland in his painting.

Address: Revaler Street 1

Alice Pasquini: Suspended

The mural "Suspended" is located in a backyard opposite the East Side Gallery. Italian artist Alice Pasquini painted six portraits of a young woman here in six days. Her style - the watercolor technique - is unmistakable. Also typical of Pasqiuni is that her art focuses on depicting people and relationships. Her six portraits show the same young woman in six different poses, each with a different facial expression. Her mural is meant to show the strength and independence of women.

Address: Warschauer Strasse 47

BLU: The Pink Man

You can already see the artwork of BLU from the Oberbaumbrücke. It shows a pink human figure with big white eyes. On closer inspection, you will see that this figure consists of hundreds of small people. These cling to each other in fear and finally form an indefinable mass. Only one person is highlighted as an individual. He is stuck between the fingers of the monster and is probably about to be eaten by it. The artist BLU thematizes fascism with his mural.

Address: Falckensteinstraße 49

Fin Dac: Engeika

"Engeika" is the first mural by street art icon Fin Dac in Berlin. It is a beautiful example of how art can be integrated into a building - and vice versa. Because at first glance you can't see what is painted and what is part of the building. Fin Dac has perfectly integrated the two balconies into his painting. The geisha dressed in a red kimono leans against the lower balcony as if it were a small table. The mural in the Berlin backyard is part of Fin Dac's series "Hidden Beauty".

Address: Köpenicker Street 9

BLU: tear down this wall

The wall of banknotes is one of few murals of the artist BLU, which have survived to this day. Like each of his works, this one carries a profound message to the viewer's eyes. The artwork shows on the left side a gray wall that falls to the ground piece by piece. But after it was already on the ground, a new wall is created - only this time from green 100 euro bills. The mural stands for Berlin. And it raises the question of what actually happened after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Address: Köpenicker Street 10 A

Os Gêmeos: Yellow Man

The mural "Yellow Man" by the Brazilian artist duo Os Gêmeos was created in 2007 as part of the graffiti festival Backjumps. The motto was "Turn the city into a magazine". The twins are among the most internationally known representatives in the street art scene. But despite their notoriety and high-paying commissions, their works are examples of socially critical street art, often with references to indigenous people. To the left of Yellow Man, the Berlin Kidz have also left their mark. The filigree, arabesque-looking tags are frequently seen in the Berlin cityscape. They are always in red, blue and black and stretch up the walls of the buildings like a sky ladder.

Address: Oppelner Strasse 3

Roa: Nature Morte

Admittedly, the mural does look a bit morbid: here a hare, a stork and a deer hang upside down on ropes from the roof. Among the hanging animals also lie a dead bull and a wild boar with severed head. The dead, injured or dismembered animals are a trademark of Belgian artist Roa. They are always sprayed in black and white and therefore have a high recognition value. You can see another of his paintings at Schönhauser Allee 116 in Prenzlauer-Berg.

Address: Oranienstrasse 2

Victor Ash: Astronaut/Cosmonaut

The mural in black and white stencil style shows a spaceman floating above the city or other graffiti. The Portuguese artist Victor Ash was inspired by the East-West conflict between the USA and the Soviet Union. For both states tried to be ahead in armament and space travel. However, Ash's spaceman is faceless and has no obvious nationality. Therefore, the mural also bears both the American and Russian designations for a spaceman in its title: "Astronaut/Cosmonaut." When Victor Ash created the mural in 2007 as part of the Backjump Festival, it was the largest stencil in the world, measuring 22 meters by 14 meters. And even today it is among the largest of its kind.

Address: Oranienstrasse 195

Millo: My Head is a Jungle

The Italian artist Millo has created a fire wall in Luckauer Straße as part of the Urban Nation Fest 2018. On display is a monotonous cityscape with skyscrapers and airplanes. But in the middle, a woman sits on a hairdresser's chair and has her hair washed. In the process, exotic animals fall out of her hair and the wash water slowly floods the city. Millo is known for his black and white line drawings, in which childlike figures, however, form a colorful contrast. His paintings represent childlike joy and playfulness.

Address: Luckauer Street 12

Herakut: My home might be no palace, but we can share it if you like

The Italian artist Millo has created a fire wall in Luckauer Straße as part of the Urban Nation Fest 2018. On display is a monotonous cityscape with skyscrapers and airplanes. But in the middle, a woman sits on a hairdresser's chair and has her hair washed. In the process, exotic animals fall out of her hair and the wash water slowly floods the city. Millo is known for his black and white line drawings, in which childlike figures, however, form a colorful contrast. His paintings represent childlike joy and playfulness.

Address: Luckauer Street 12

Guided Street Art Tours in Berlin

You don't feel like wandering the streets on your own and would rather join a guided street art tour in Berlin? Nothing could be easier. If you book a tour via the following affiliate links, you will support Fernweh-Motive with a small commission. The tour will not be more expensive for you. Merci!

Cryptik: Graphics

Just around the corner, on Bergfried Street, Southern California artist Cryptik created a graphic mural using the stencil technique. His works are an expression of spirituality and consciousness. Thus, this mural also features mandala-like patterns as representations of deities and spiritual guides. For Cryptik, his art is spiritual in nature. His "Mantradalas" are to be used for meditation, contemplation and also for trance. So it is about new perspectives, pausing in everyday life as well as positive karma.

Address: Bergfriedstraße 20

Emily Eldridge: The Thread that tied us together

The colorful mural was painted on April 8, 2020 - when just the lockdown because of the Corona virus has paralyzed Berlin. It is probably the newest artwork in my street art map and is titled "The red thread that holds us together". But what exactly is it that holds us together? The artist explored this question: For Emily, it is the city, the neighborhood as well as the home that binds us together. All those who live here ultimately make Berlin what it is. No matter where the individual comes from.

Address: Wassertorstraße 64

Bosoletti, Young Jarus: Daphne and Apollo

Argentine artist Francisco Bosoletti and Canadian artist Young Jarus have painted a joint mural here for Urban Nation 2018 under the motto "United". And it sets standards! Because it covers an area of 45 x 15 meters and shows the tragic love story of Daphne and Apollo. And it goes like this: Apollo has angered Eros. As a result, he shoots two arrows, one golden at Apollo and one made of lead at Daphne. With the effect that Apollo falls madly in love with Daphnie, but Daphnie feels rather the opposite. To escape Apollo, Daphne finally allows herself to be transformed into a laurel bush. As an expression of his grief over unrequited love, Apollo has worn a laurel wreath on his head ever since.

Address: Gitschiner Str. 65

Berlin Kidz - various graffiti

They are crazy, fearless and brazen. Nobody knows who they are, but their graffiti is unmistakable: filigree, arabesque-looking characters in the colors red, blue and black. There are also always little messages hidden between the tags. Their graffiti spans the facades of the highest buildings and the most inaccessible places. From the very top to the very bottom. To do this, the Berlin Kidz abseil down building roofs in spectacular actions and film themselves doing it. Tip: You can see many of their videos on You Tube.

The style of the Berlin Kidz is influenced by the beginnings of US-American graffiti. Because in the past, graffiti spraying was also considered a kind of extreme sport, was political and rebellious. Without a lot of frills around it. Their graffiti is a fight for freedom, against gentrification and surveillance. Their goal? "Fuck the system." At least that's the title of the film Thomas von Wittich made about the Berlin Kidz. You can also watch it in full length on You Tube. Here you can see the video.

You can also see more graffiti of the Berlin Kidz on the following murals: BLU: tear down this wall; Os Gêmeos: Yellow Man; Roa: Nature Morte; Victor Ash: Astronaut/Cosmonaut

Axel Void: Man is a Wolf to Man

At first, you only see the bright white lettering on the dark background. But at second glance, you recognize structures in the black surface. Then, at the third glance, the structure becomes a human being. However, only his head, his upper body bent forward and his right hand, with which he holds something, can be seen. Above this is the Latin sentence: "Homo Homini Lupus", translated "Man is a wolf to man" from the comedy "Eseleien" by the Roman poet Titus Maccius Plautus. The English philosopher Hobbes later used this phrase in his philosophical work "Leviathan." He used it to describe the human quest for power and the phrase subsequently became famous.

Address: Bergfried Street 11

Do you want to discover the street art scene in Berlin together with like-minded people on a guided tour? Then I can recommend this three-hour Street Art Tour* or the half-day Tour through the Alternative Berlin* . Both tours are in English. Do you love lost places as much as street art? Then the Tour to the former Listening Station at Teufelsberg* (in German) is made for you.

Jadore Tong: No Comment

The mural by Jadore Tong shows the three (partly former) heads of state Barack Obama, Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin. They hold their hands in front of their eyes, ears or mouths. With this, the artist alludes to the well-known Buddhist wisdom: "See nothing (evil), hear nothing (evil), say nothing (evil)."

Address: Knight Street 12

Shepard Fairey: Make Art Not War

The mural "Make Art Not War" was created in 2014 as part of Urban Nation's "One Wall" project. Above the mural is the slogan "Make Art Not War", which is an allusion to "Make Love Not War". The latter slogan stood in the 1960s as a protest against the Cold War and the Vietnam War. Also, in the center of the painting is a rose. The stem first has rose thorns, but further down the thorns have turned into spikes of a barbed wire fence. Around the stem closes a handcuff with the inscription "Rise Above". To the left and right of the handcuff is "Eyes Open" and "Mind Open." The mural thus sends a message of peace and asks viewers to be open, tolerant as well as respectful. The handcuffed rose can be interpreted as a symbol that it is possible to rise above societal constraints.

Address: Mehringplatz 28

Don John: Hoodie

As part of Urban Nation's "One Wall" project, a mural by Danish street artist Don John was created on a house wall at Mehringplatz in 2014. The mural shows on the right side a torso in a black hoodie with his hands buried in his pockets. A head, however, does not appear to be present. A flock of colorful birds pours out of the empty hood. They fly away over the rest of the wall. Later, someone threw red paint bags at the birds, making it look as if they had been shot. However, Don John's original version had a different, friendlier character.

Address: Mehringplatz 12

Pichi Avo: Janus

This mural by Pichi Avo was also created during the second Berlin Mural Fest in 2019. The French artist is known for urban mythology. Namely, in his murals he combines street art and Greek and Roman mythology. This mural in Friedrichstraße depicts the Roman two-faced god Janus, the god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time as well as duality. And what makes the painting so special is that Janus is covered in graffiti from top to bottom.

Address: Friedrichstraße 7

Mr. Aryz: Wrestlers

Spanish artist Mr. Aryz is known for his large-scale murals. He painted this mural with the fighting wrestlers during the second Berlin Mural Fest in 2019. He often paints dynamic scenes in bold colors, leaving the brushwork largely visible. He also filled the free areas with clearly visible brushstrokes. In his painting, the struggling people are representative of our society.

Address: Friedrichstraße 7

Jadore Tong: Peace Unity Love Wisdom

Next to the streetball court in Theodor-Wolff-Park an elephant plays with a balloon. He almost looks like he wants to play ball with the kids. However, the colorful elephant not only brings color to the gray wall. He also brings a message: "Peace - Unity - Love - Wisdom" is written at the bottom of the artwork. That makes it even more meaningful. Beautiful, isn't it?

The huge painting is certainly one of the most photographed murals in Berlin. It was realized in 2016 by Jadore Tong aka S.Y.R.U.S. (Save Your Rich Intouchable Soul) as a privately organized project. It took a whole 4 weeks to complete the 750 square meter painting. It covers the entire back of a typical Berlin old building with six floors. First, the outlines were painted with a paint roller and spray cans, which were then filled with wall paint. In the end, the details were finally applied with spray cans.

Address: Franz-Klühs-Straße / corner building Wilhelmstraße 7

Book Recommendations for Street Art Fans

You like to browse through illustrated books for new murals or artists you don't know yet? You love to discover the street art scene of other cities? Then I can recommend these books. Click on the picture to get to Amazon, where you can order the books. If you buy something through one of these affiliate links, I get a small commission and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. The product will not be more expensive for you.

Jadore Tong: Mountain Ama Dablam

The sight gives one wanderlust. Especially as long as the borders are still closed because of the Corona Pandemic. The mural shows the mountain Ama Dablam in the Himalayan mountains in eastern Nepal. The main peak is 6,812 meters high, the lower west peak is 6,170 meters high. Ama Dablam means "necklace of the mother".

Address: Franz-Klühs-Straße / corner building Wilhelmstraße 7

Various artists: Tommy-Weisbecker-Haus

In 1971, the Thommy Weisbecker Haus was the first successful squat in West Berlin. In the early 1980s, it was finally recognized as a youth housing community. Today, it offers around 40 teenagers and young adults the opportunity for self-determined living and working. With its numerous projects and solo events, it is also an important meeting place for the left-wing youth scene. It is named after the anarchist Tommy Weisbecker, who was shot by the police in the 1970s.

The artist and former social worker Andreas Dornbusch was in charge of the facade paintings. Completed in 1989, the paintings are thoroughly political and also reminiscent of left-wing protest slogans and symbols. They take up the themes of war, nuclear power, capitalism, the dumbing down of people by the mass media, and liberation through a return to nature. The left side of the house is also open to various graffiti artists today as a Hall of Fame.

Address: Wilhelmstraße 9

James Bullough, Telmo Miel: unified

Berlin-based artist James Bullough and Dutch artist duo TelmoMiel completed their mural "unified" in May 2018 as part of Urban Nation's "One Wall" project. It shows one person, but composed of body parts of different people of different nationalities. James Bullough is known for large-scale works with strong contrasts. In this artwork, he combines realistic portraiture and stylized distortions.

Address: Bernburger Str. 35

CBS Crew and Kripoe: Yellow Fists

The CBS Crew (CBS stands for Cowboys) and the artist Kripoe have distributed their Yellow Fists in Berlin between 1995 and 2005. And they did so in the most impossible and inaccessible places in the city. Their bright yellow fists stand as a symbol of anarchy and rebellion. Even though the last of them were created in 2005, many of them are still well preserved.

Address: At the elevated railroad at Tempelhofer Ufer / corner of Anhalter Steg.

Interbrigadas e.V.: Revolt of the Colors

Now you have arrived at the last mural of my street art map. It was created as part of the project "Uprising of Colors" by Interbrigadas e.V. in the summer of 2009 and is one of the largest murals in Berlin. It measures 600 square meters and is located on the side of the Mercure Hotel in Berlin Mitte. A total of eight artists from South America and Berlin were involved. The picture is therefore also a colorful mix of motifs and connects the different cultures. You can see figures of different origins, for example Karl Marx or a sexy Indian woman. Her arm turns into a branch holding a spray can in her hand. Besides the jungle and exotic animals, a city with skyscrapers is also growing. On the other side there are charming little houses and a bodega. And of course, the Berlin TV tower can't be missing either. Finally, hovering above it all is a red-and-white striped zeppelin trailing a banner that reads "Interbrigadas."

Address: Luckenwalder Str. 11

Here your street art tour in Berlin continues:

So, here at Gleisdreieck is the last mural in my street art map for Berlin Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg. I hope you enjoyed the tour. Do you want to see more Berlin street art? Then continue here to the Graffiti Skyscrapers in Art Park Tegel and to another Street Art Walk in Berlin-Bülowstraße.

Did you like the street art tour with the map through Berlin Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I would also be very happy if you share my article with your friends. Do you have any questions or suggestions? If so, please write me a comment!

Der Beitrag Street Art Guide & Map Berlin Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

An industrial Wasteland becomes a Hotspot for Urban Art

Dilapidated brick buildings, railroad tracks running nowhere and empty factory halls give lost place a romantic come to life. Anyone entering the RAW site in the trendy Friedrichhain neighborhood for the first time will be overwhelmed. It is colorful, anarchic and always new and different. A world of its own. Between ivy-covered walls and broken windows, graffiti, paste-ups and stickers have the RAW site firmly in their grip - urban art wherever you look.It almost seems as if all the paint is holding the ramshackle buildings together in the first place.

The "Urban Spree", a 1,700 square meter hotspot for urban art in Berlin, has been created on the RAW site. Urban Spree organizes exhibitions, workshops and concerts. There is also an art market and a small beer garden for refreshments. Urban Spree also includes the 400 sqm Urban Spree Gallery with independent exhibitions of contemporary urban art. The flagship of Urban Spree is the so-called Artist Wall,a 15-meter long and 8-meter high wall facing Warschauer Straße. Here you can see ever-changing paintings. Please klick on the placeholder to see the pictures:

History of the RAW Site

RAW stands for Reichsbahnausbesserungswerk. It opened in 1867 under the name "Königlich Preußische Eisenbahnwerkstatt Berlin II" and belonged to the Prussian Eastern Railway. After the end of the monarchy in 1918, it was then renamed "Reichsbahnausbesserungswerk". During World War II, almost 80% of the site was destroyed in air raids in 1944. After the end of the war, the plant was finally rebuilt and given the name "Reichsbahnausbesserungswerk (RAW) Franz Stenzer" in 1967. Stenzer was a communist Reichstag deputy and Bavarian railroad worker who was murdered in the Dachau concentration camp. After German reunification, however, there were too many railroad repair shops. Therefore, the workshops on the RAW site were gradually shut down. Between 1995 and 1999, everything finally stood still on the site. But in the summer of 1999, the RAW-Tempel e.V. association began leasing the site and adapting it for interim use. Art, culture, clubs and gastronomy found a place here on the old industrial wasteland where they could realize themselves.

And what's next for the RAW Site?

Since April 1, 2015, the Kurth company has been the owner of the 52,000 square meter site. According to the Kurth company, the future orientation of the site is to tie in with its decades-long function as a central, mixed-use neighborhood. We shall see. As is often the case in Berlin, everything here revolves around one topic: the threat of gentrification of entire city neighborhoods.

How to get there:
Revalerstrasse 99, Friedrichshain
S-/U-Bahn station Warschauer Straße

Tip: The East Side Gallery is not far from the RAW area. You can combine the visit of these two urban art hotspots in Berlin.

Do you want to discover the street art scene in Berlin together with like-minded people on a guided tour? Then I can recommend this three-hour Street Art Tour* or the half-day Tour through the Alternative Berlin* . Both tours are in English. Do you love lost places as much as street art? Then the Tour to the former Listening Station at Teufelsberg* (in German) is made for you.

Book Recommendations for Street Art Fans

You like to browse through illustrated books for new murals or artists you don't know yet? You love to discover the street art scene of other cities? Then I can recommend these books. Click on the picture to get to Amazon, where you can order the books. If you buy something through one of these affiliate links, I get a small commission and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. The product will not be more expensive for you.

Did you like my article about the urban art at the RAW site? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I would also be very happy if you share my article with your friends. Do you have any questions or suggestions? If so, please write me a comment!

Here you can find more Urban Art

You want to see more street art in Berlin? Then continue here with a visit to Haus Schwarzenberg in Berlin Mitte and to the Graffiti Skyscrapers in Art Park Tegel.

Der Beitrag RAW-Gelände – Urban Art und Lost Place Romantik erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

Unassigned, unpaid advertising. The article contains affiliate links.

Smallest and most popular Street Art Hotspot in Berlin - Haus Schwarzenberg.

The inconspicuous archway, right next to Café Cinema, is easy to miss. And as soon as you've taken three steps into the passageway, you'll only continue at a snail's pace. Because already here in the archway graffiti, paste-ups and stickers fight for your attention. After a few meters, a long courtyard opens up. To the left and right, the walls are painted or pasted up all over. You'll find artwork in all styles and sizes. New ones are added all the time, old ones are painted or pasted over. So the walls show you a different face with every visit. Take your time to explore the smallest and probably most popular street art hotspot in Berlin!

And when you're done with the passage and the inner courtyard, then continue in the legendary staircase of Haus Schwarzenberg: This is the door on the right in the first courtyard. I have never seen so many stickers! After that, there is a second courtyard to discover. This one is just like the first one painted all over with graffiti and co.

Haus Schwarzenberg is more than "just" Street Art

But Haus Schwarzenberg is more than "just" a street art hotspot. It is a unique microcosm in the middle of the "mainstream chic" of the Scheunenviertel at Hackescher Markt. The building, which has been a listed building since 1995, is a place for culture and independent art.It stands as a symbol for freedom, against mainstream and gentrification.And probably exactly because of that it is a tourist magnet and a pilgrimage site for all street art fans.

In the Schwarzenberg House there is the Neurotitan Gallery and Shop.Since 1996, the gallery has been organizing new exhibitions on a monthly basis. Here lovers of street art, illustration, urban art and comics get their money's worth. The Neurotitan Shop offers a wide selection of art, books, curios and gift ideas.

The portrait of Anne Frank by Jimmy C. in his distinctive drop style also invites you to visit the exhibition "All about Anne" in the Anne Frank Center. You can also get to it via the right staircase in the first courtyard.

In the second backyard is the club Eschschloraque Rümschrümp.It is one of the last bastions of Berlin's underground and sees itself as a refuge for free (life) art and alternative club culture. Don't miss it!

Finally, another highlight is hidden in the basement of the building: the monster cabinet of the Berlin artist group Dead Chickens. It is a whimsical collection of mechanical and computer-controlled monster robots. The cabinet opened in 2010. Previously, the monsters lived in an old factory building in Berlin Schöneweide.

What does the Name "Schwarzenberg" mean?

A bizarre story gave Schwarzenberg its name: In the Erzgebirge, there is a town and a district called Schwarzenberg. At the end of the Second World War, due to a misunderstanding, the Allies advanced from both directions only to the borders of Schwarzenberg. Schwarzenberg thus remained unoccupied for six weeks and called itself the "Free Republic of Schwarzenberg". But in the end it was occupied by Soviet troops. Can there be a more fitting name for this little microcosm at Hackescher Markt?

Tip: You need a break after all these impressions? Then I recommend the traditional Café Cinema in the front building. It was founded on October 2, 1990, a few hours before the German reunification. In summer it also has benches in the courtyard of Haus Schwarzenberg.

How to get there

Address: Rosenthaler Straße 39 in Berlin Mitte.
Directions to get there: S-Bahn station Hackescher Markt or U-Bahn station Weinmeister Straße. The Tram line 1 stops almost directly in front of the entrance.

Do you want to discover the street art scene in Berlin together with like-minded people on a guided tour? Then I can recommend this three-hour Street Art Tour* or the half-day Tour through the Alternative Berlin* . Both tours are in English. Do you love lost places as much as street art? Then the Tour to the former Listening Station at Teufelsberg* (in German) is made for you.

Book Recommendations for Street Art Fans

You like to browse through illustrated books for new murals or artists you don't know yet? You love to discover the street art scene of other cities? Then I can recommend these books. Click on the picture to get to Amazon, where you can order the books. If you buy something through one of these affiliate links, I get a small commission and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. The product will not be more expensive for you.

Did you like my article about the street art at Haus Schwarzenberg? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I would also be very happy if you share my article with your friends. Do you have any questions or suggestions? If so, please write me a comment!

Tips for further reading & viewing

You love street art? Then take a look at my articles about Street Art in Kiev and in La Paz. Both cities have very different murals - but both are equally impressive.

Der Beitrag Haus Schwarzenberg – Street Art Highlight in Berlin erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

"Poor but sexy!" Who said that? That was Berlin's mayor Wowereit in November 2003, when the phrase became the city's leitmotif and was often quoted.

Unassigned, unpaid advertising. The article contains affiliate links.

The Street Art walk around Bülowstraße at a Glance

Start and end point: Nollendorfplatz underground station
Length: about 3.2 kilometers
Duration of the walk: about 1,5 hours
Tip: Combine your walk with a visit to the Urban Art Museum for Contemporary Art,, one of Berlin's Street Art hotspots.

Urban Art Museum for Contemporary Art,

What is street art doing in a museum? Street art belongs on the street...

Actually, yes, but. The international network of URBAN NATION promotes artists and the acceptance of street art. Because everyone who is involved with street art knows: art polarizes. And art that is visible to everyone on the street, all the more so. Workshops, Street Art Festivals, das “One Wall” Projekt und natürlich das Museum selbst schaffen eine communication platform. A basis for the exchange and growing together of artists, artworks and the inhabitants behind the painted walls. The museum on Bülowstraße documents the history of a subculture and explores the question of what makes street art so fascinating and successful. A total of 100 works by well-known artists and newcomersawait you. And for those who can't make it to Berlin, the museum also offers a digital tour. .

On the outer facade of the museum is a modular interchangeable facade with fibre cement panels. It was redesigned in June 2020 by Dave the Chimp & Friends . Dave is known for his orange "Human Beans". Together with Mina, Señor Schnu, Lunartik and Humble Writerz he designed the façade of the museum. The result is a picture in which so much is to be discovered that one can hardly make the jump into the actual museum. But for all the diversity, there is also an overriding theme: solidarity.

How to get there:
Bülowstraße 7; underground station Bülowstraße (U2) or Nollendorfplatz (U1, U2, U3, U4).
Admission is free, but donations are welcome.

Die “East Side Gallery” des Westens – Street Art rund um die Bülowstraße

Now it's off to the street, or rather to my little gallery. Some pictures have come together. But you can discover many more on your walk around the Bülowstraße. With a click on the pictureyou can see the photos in full size. The title of the picture is also shown. In the best case, you will find out the artist, the title of the work of art and the address.

Do you want to discover the street art scene in Berlin together with like-minded people on a guided tour? Then I can recommend this three-hour Street Art Tour* or the half-day Tour through the Alternative Berlin* . Both tours are in English. Do you love lost places as much as street art? Then the Tour to the former Listening Station at Teufelsberg* (in German) is made for you.

Book Recommendations for Street Art Fans

You like to browse through illustrated books for new murals or artists you don't know yet? You love to discover the street art scene of other cities? Then I can recommend these books. Click on the picture to get to Amazon, where you can order the books. If you buy something through one of these affiliate links, I get a small commission and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. The product will not be more expensive for you.

Did you like my Street Art walk around Bülowstraße? Then follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram. I would also be very happy if you share my article with your friends. Do you have any questions or suggestions? If so, please write me a comment!

Tips for further reading & viewing

You love street art? Then take a look at my articles about Street Art in Kiev and in La Paz. Both cities have very different murals - but both are equally impressive.

Der Beitrag Street Art Spaziergang Bülowstraße – Kunst für alle! erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.

Unassigned, unpaid advertising. The article contains affiliate links.

All 15 Highlights of the Berlin Wall Trail at a Glance

#1 Remains of the Berlin Wall - Watchtowers and Wall
#2 The Cherry Blossom - When and Where?
#3 Former Border Crossing Bornholmer Straße and Platz des 9. November 1989
#4 Bernauer Strasse with Documentation and Visitor Centre Berlin Wall Memorial
#5 Border and Ghost Stations in divided Berlin
#6 Brandenburg Gate - Symbol for the Division of Germany
#7 Checkpoint Charly
#8 East Side Gallery - the longest open Air Gallery in the World
#9 Check Point for Vessels and Molecule Man
#10 The southern Route of the Mauerweg: wide Fields and Birch Groves
#11 Around the Border Checkpoint Dreilinden
#12 Section Griebnitzsee to Wannsee
#13 Glienicke Bridge aka "Unit Bridge" or "Agent Bridge"
#14 Sacrower Heilandskirche
#15 With the Ferry from Wannsee to Kladow

Why walk the Wall Trail?

The Berlin Wall Trail runs for 160 kilometers once around West Berlin. I walked it in the spring of 2020. It was my compensation during the Corona restrictions, a time when all borders in the EU and beyond were suddenly closed. Our freedom to travel, which we had taken for granted, had suddenly moved into the distant future for an indefinite period. GDR jokes were dug out and turned into corona jokes. It was - and still is - a time that made me think. Which taught me that nothing should be taken for granted. What could be more appropriate than walking the Berlin Wall Trail in this context? How must people in East Berlin have felt back then, when a wall was being built before their eyes? When their normality suddenly changed? I know that the comparison is a bit vague - but nevertheless I have seen the meaning of borders with different eyes.

But working through history is not the only reason for starting the Wall Walk. The path is simply the only long-distance hiking trail in or around Berlin and offers great opportunities for some exercise in the countryside (depending on the section) and in the fresh air. And the Berlin Wall Trail also has some really exciting highlights to offer.

The Stages of the Berlin Wall Trail

The Berlin Wall Trail is divided into 14 stages for hikers. These are between 5 and 21 kilometres long. The start and end points are each easily accessible by S-Bahn or U-Bahn. The sections within the city are somewhat shorter. Numerous information boards, sightseeings and museums, let one progress only slowly.

1. Hermsdorf to Wollankstraße – 15 km
2. Wollankstraße to Nordbahnhof – 5 km
3. Nordbahnhof to Potsdamer Platz – 7 km
4. Potsdamer Platz to Warschauer Straße – 7 km
5. Warschauer Straße to Schöneweide – 13 km
6. Schöneweide to Schönefeld – 6 km
7. Schönefeld to Lichtenrade – 16 km
8. Lichtenrade to Lichterfelde Süd – 12 km
9. Lichterfelde Süd to Griebnitzsee – 15 km
10. Griebnitzsee to Wannsee – 12 km
11. Wannsee to Staaken – 21 km
12. Staaken to Hennigsdorf – 20 km
13. Hennigsdorf to Hohen Neuendorf – 10 km
14. Hohen Neuendorf to Hermsdorf – 6 km

The route is well signposted throughout and can be walked without a map or GPS. In the inner city area, the course of the Wall is also marked by a double row of cobblestones. However, a map is helpful if you are looking for the nearest bus stop. A map and gpx file can be found here.

Of course you can also cycle the Wall Trail and combine stages. Bicycles can be taken along on the trains with an extra ticket.

Hiking or rather by Bike?

Many people know the Berlin Wall Trail only as the"Mauerradweg". And indeed: almost the entire length of the path is ideal for cycling. In summer, maybe even a bit too good - it gets crowded quickly and as a hiker you have the feeling that you are a bit out of place. What helps then?

• In general it is better to start early in the morning. zu starten.
• If the Wall Trail is too crowded for you, then look out for parallel hiking trails. There are, for example, between Rudow and Lichterfelde Süd.
• From Schöneweide to Schönefeld, the Wall Trail runs for 6 kilometres between the noisy motorway and the Teltow Canal without offering anything interesting. You can easily skip this section, for example by taking bus lines 160 and 265 from the James-Franck-Straße stop to Baumschulenstraße.
• There are so many things worth seeing on the stages in the city centre that the best way to get around is on foot.

The 15 Highlights of the Berlin Wall Trail

The Berlin Wall Trail is varied and there is a lot to discover. Both the history enthusiast and the nature lover will get their money's worth. I've put together a few highlights of the Berlin Wall Trail that I particularly liked.

But one more thing in advance: along the way there are many information steles that tell of escape attempts and individual fates. I read through every single story and was deeply touched. Take your time for the stories!

#1 Remains of the Berlin Wall - Watchtowers and Wall

What makes the Berlin Wall Trail so special? Certainly all the remains of the border fortifications that you can still discover along the way. Especially the former watchtowers and longer sections of the Berlin Wall, but also metal fences, vehicle barriers, and the so-called Stalin lawn. Every single relict of the border installations contributes to a deeper understanding of the history of the division of Germany. And because this topic is so important, I have written a separate article about the remains of the Berlin Wall - Watchtowers and Remains of the Wall that are worth seeing.

#2 The Cherry Blossom - When and Where?

The cherry trees blossom in April, the exact start depends on the weather. Berlin's longest cherry tree avenue with over 1000 trees is located on the Berlin Wall Trail between Ostpreußendamm and Japan-Eck (Lichterfelder Allee 165). The Hanami cherry blossom festival is celebrated here every year. But there are also sections with cherry tree avenues in the city, for example next to the Wollankstraße S-Bahn station and on the section directly in front of the Bornholmer Straße S-Bahn station. The trees are a gift from Japan to celebrate the first anniversary of the fall of the Wall.

#3 Former Border Crossing Bornholmer Straße and Platz des 9. November 1989

The border crossing on Bornholmer Strasse was the first of the seven Berlin crossings to be opened on 9 November. The barrier went up at about 22.30 hours. Crowds streamed across the Bösebrücke bridge into West Berlin. A timeline on the ground and an open air exhibition with photographs and texts document the events. Here you can really join in the excitement of what happened after Politburo member Günter Schabowski announced at the legendary press conference that Western travel was possible across all border crossings. From now on! Here you can still see a piece of the hinterland wall of the border fortifications.

#4 Bernauer Strasse with Documentation and Visitor Centre Berlin Wall Memorial

The 1.4 kilometer long Berlin Wall Memorial begins opposite Mauerpark. You'll have to plan a little more time here. Numerous information pillars document the events on Bernauer Strasse with photos and touching texts. This is where particularly dramatic escapes occurred in August 1961. Because the houses on Bernauer Strasse were in the east, but the pavement in front of the houses belonged to the French sector. When the border guards here began to wall up the windows of the ground floor apartments in August 1961, many of the residents tried to flee from the upper windows. Not everyone was lucky. Finally, the houses were cleared and demolished in 1965.

Several escape tunnels were also dug in Bernauer Strasse. Their location is indicated on the ground by markings.

At the end of Bernauer Strasse it is worth visiting the Documentation Center and the Berlin Wall Memorial Visitor Center. From the observation tower of the Documentation Center you can see a section of the Wall in its original structure , including the watchtower. This is the only complete section of the Wall that is still standing. Admission is free.

#5 Border and Ghost Stations in divided Berlin

During the division of Germany, several underground and suburban railway stations in Berlin became ghost stations. The trains of today's U-Bahn lines 6 and 8 and the north-south connection of the S-Bahn then passed under East Berlin without stopping. They slowly drove past the abandoned and closed stations - although - they were not that abandoned. Here, too, armed border guards made sure that nobody used the underground railway tunnels to escape. This certainly made the ghost stations a bit scarier.

The Nordbahnhof was one such ghost station. Here, the exhibition Ausstellung “Grenz- und Geisterbahnhöfe im geteilten Berlin” is located on a mezzanine floor (entrance Gartenstraße; free admission).

#6 Brandenburg Gate - Symbol for the Division of Germany

The former city gate and landmark of Berlin stood in the middle of the border strip during the division of Germany in the Soviet sector. Pariser Platz was also part of the border strip. Both were inaccessible to GDR citizens. For foreign guests, however, an information centre was set up in one wing of the Brandenburg Gate. The Brandenburg Gate became a symbol of a divided Germany. Today, an exhibition in the underground station Brandenburger Tor (U55) informs about its history.

#7 Checkpoint Charly

There is always a lot going on at Checkpoint Charly. Next to the East Side Gallery it is the most visited place at the former border and is also one of the most famous sights of Berlin. Since 2000, the replica of a former control barrack of the so-called foreigners' border crossing has been standing here. The portrait of a border guard still watches over this place and a large sign warns against leaving the American sector.

But here at Checkpoint Charly there is even more to see: The open-air exhibition Checkpoint Gallery documents the history of the border crossing with large-format photos. The Wall Museum and the Cold War Black Box invite history fans to visit. panoramic picture of Yadegar Asisi transports the visitor into a fictitious autumn day of the 1980s. In addition, there are several souvenir shops offering GDR-specific souvenirs, such as Trabis or pieces of the Wall. As you can see, you could plan a whole day for this highlight of the Berlin Wall Trail.

Speaking of Trabants: Have you ever driven one? How about a Trabi-Safari* in Berlin? I once owned a light blue Trabant station wagon for a short time. The steering wheel gear shifting took a little getting used to.

You want to explore the former border on a guided tour? Then I can recommend the Insider Tour Cold War* (english + german) and a guided Bike Tour along the Wall in a small group* (german).

#8 East Side Gallery

The colourful side of the East Side Gallery - an expression of joy and hope

The East Side Gallery is the longest section of the wall still preserved, at about 1.3 kilometres. And certainly also the most famous. For the Wall between Ostbahnhof and Oberbaumbrücke is not only a testimony to history, but also the longest open air gallery in the world. So there are two good reasons for a visit. The Berlin Wall Foundation offers public guided tours focusing on history or art.

The East Side Gallery was built after the opening of the Berlin Wall between spring and autumn 1990. 118 artists from 21 countries painted the then grey concrete wall with 106 works of art. And thus saved the Wall from demolition. In their paintings, the artists expressed the political changes of 1989/90 and their joy over the fall of the Wall. In November 1991, the wall and its paintings were finally listed as a historical monument. However, environmental influences and overpainting caused the paintings to suffer. After minor restoration measures, a complete restoration finally took place in 2009. The works of art were removed and the respective artists were asked to repaint their paintings with more resistant colours.

The white side of the East Side Gallery - a shadow catcher

The side of the East Side Gallery facing the Spree River was recently painted white. At first I interpreted this as preparation for new works of art. But I was completely wrong. The East Side Gallery has been restored to its original pre-1989 condition. In its function as a barrier element, this side of the wall had been painted light-colored since the 1980s. The border guards were supposed to be able to see the shadows of people fleeing more easily. The historical condition of the Wall should be made visible to the visitor again and contribute to a deeper understanding of this place.

#9 Check Point for Vessels and Molecule Man

The "Molecule Man" by Jonathan Borofsky can be seen from far away. He stands for the growing together of the three districts Friedrichshain, Treptow and Kreuzberg and is a great photo motif. In the background you can see the remains of the former check point for vessels. The approximately 500-metre-long footbridge for customs clearance dating from 1962 still exists and, like all border fortifications, is now a listed building. It was here that a spectacular escape was made: twelve GDR citizens reached West Berlin on a pleasure boat.

From here you also have a good view of the beautiful Oberbaum Bridge. The border crossing over the Oberbaum Bridge was only allowed to be used by pedestrians at that time.

#10 The southern Route of the Mauerweg: wide Fields and Birch Groves

The southern part of the Wall Trail from Schönefeld to Lichterfelde Süd is ideal if you want to get out of Berlin into the countryside. From the path on the outskirts you usually have a wide view over the fields outside the city. In addition to the paved bike path, there is usually an unpaved path for hikers.

The route also has two highlights somewhat apart from the actual route: from the viewpoint of the former landfill you have a great view of the outskirts. The "Dörferblick" (village view) at Rudow also offers you a great view. But the most fascinating thing about this hill is its butterflies. In spring you can watch the beautiful yellow-black swallowtails with great certainty.

Hiking boots, daypacks and everything else you might need for a hike on the Berlin Wall Trail can be found at Bergzeit*.

#11 Around the Border Checkpoint Dreilinden

The Berlin Wall Trail from Lichterfelde Süd to Griebnitzsee is a highlight for all fans of Lost Places. Here you can discover two abandoned places. The border checkpoint Dreilinden on today's A115 and the original border checkpoint Dreilinden near Teerofenbrück with the remains of the former motorway route. At that time the highway was too close to the inner German border. Therefore, it was relocated. The border control point was also newly built and is known as Checkpoint Bravo. Its red-blue-yellow pop-art rotunda was a strong contrast to the gray border installations of the GDR. It was opened in 1973. Since 2002, however, the entire Dreilinden rest area has been abandoned and has decayed.

There is not much left of the former Dreilinden border inspection post. An old motorway bridge, remnants of the motorway, markings and pedestrian paths, a three-mast flag system and the old service building. You can find out more about the two former border checkpoints in my article Lost Places in Berlin and Brandenburg. After you have crossed the former highway bridge over the Teltow Canal, you can also run along the old highway route parallel to the Mauerweg. This has been dismantled, but is still clearly recognizable from the terrain formation.

#12 Section Griebnitzsee to Wannsee

The Wall Trail between Griebnitzsee and Wannsee was one of the most beautiful for me. A little bit like vacation and perfect for a nice summer day. There are also many great opportunities for side trips to other interesting places. So prepare for a long day. There are also lots of great places to stop for a refreshment. And don't forget your bathing suit!

From the Griebnitzsee S-Bahn station, the route first leads along the lake to the Klein Glienicke park bridge. The border facilities were located on the southern shore of the lake, which had been expropriated for the construction of the border. Today there are impressive villas. Unfortunately, their plots mostly reach down to the water, so there is only a short walk at the shore. Klein Glienicke is located behind the park bridge. At the time of the division, the place was only accessible via this small bridge with a special pass. At one of the houses you can still see the faded red advertising of a former consumer - the supermarket chain of the GDR.

The Wall Trail then leads you past the Glienicke Bridge and along the banks of the Havel. From here you have a view of the Sacrower Heilandskirche and the Pfaueninsel. Side trips are worthwhile. Behind the Pfaueninsel, the Mauerweg then runs on the Pfaueninselchaussee to Königstraße. This is not particularly exciting, especially since there is also traffic here. Alternatively, you can walk through the Grunewald forest and enjoy the peace or simply continue along the riverside path.

#13 Glienicke Bridge aka "Unit Bridge" or "Agent Bridge"

In 1660 there was a bridge on the site of today's Glienicke Bridge, which connected Berlin and Potsdam. Shortly before the end of the Second World War, the Glienicke Bridge was blown up by German soldiers. The Soviet troops temporarily built a pontoon bridge. It was not until December 1949 that the bridge was restored and henceforth had the name “Brücke der Einheit” - as a reminder of the unity of the anti-fascist parties. But in 1952 it was closed and was only passable with a special pass. The “Bridge of Unity” was now part of the border that separated Berlin and Potsdam. As an “Agentenbrücke” , it finally became a mystical place of the Cold War. This was because agents were exchanged between east and west over the bridge.

#14 Sacrower Heilandskirche

The Sacrower Heilandskirche gives a nice picture. It is difficult to imagine that the border between East and West Berlin ran across the church grounds. The bell tower was part of the border wall. The services were stopped in December 1961, the church in the no man's land fell into disrepair. But donations from the West at least made it possible for the church to be preserved externally. The interior of the church has now been restored and is available for church services, weddings and concerts. If you want to visit the church, you can take the ferry from Krughorn.

#15 With the Ferry from Wannsee to Kladow

The ferry crossing is especially attractive in summer. Many sailing boats and paddlers are on the water. You also have a great view of the villas on the shore, the marinas and the Wannsee lido. Shortly before the ferry reaches Kladow, it passes the tiny island of Imchen. Hundreds of cormorants live here. The trees that carry their nests are dead and bare. Even if the cormorant colony is not popular with everyone, the birds are under protection and the whole island is a nature reserve.

Book Recommendations for Berlin Explorers

If you want to go deeper and learn more about the Berlin Wall, I can recommend the following books. Click on the picture to get to Amazon, where you can order the books. If you buy something through one of these affiliate links, I get a small commission and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. The product will not be more expensive for you.

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More Berlin articles to read on

You want to discover more of Berlin? How about Berlin's Lost Places or a trip to the Graffiti Skyscrapers in Art Park Tegel?

Der Beitrag Berliner Mauerweg – 15 Highlights rund um West-Berlin erschien zuerst auf Fernweh-Motive.