ÐÔÊÓ½ç

Today it is all about green for us. Why so? Because we will take a closer look at ÐÔÊÓ½ç´s public parks. And should the thought occur to you that knowing one of them means knowing them all, allow us to prove this to be fundamentally wrong.

Let´s start with the city´s largest park, the Tiergarten (this is no synonym to the Zoologischer Garten or the Tierpark - these are “real“ zoos with zebras and monkeys). Thanks to its huge area there are various little lakes and a middle-sized one, the Neuer See, with , which is currently under renovation. Besides, there is a in the so-called English Garden (where we can finally even sit down to have a cup of tea now!) and a rose garden, which was installed in 1909.

Similar in its size, but completely different when it comes to atmosphere is Tempelhofer Feld. The former airport ÐÔÊÓ½ç Tempelhof stopped operations in 2008 and is used as leisure area today, especially popular with skaters and picnic lovers. It gained historical importance during the ÐÔÊÓ½ç Blockade in 1948/49, when British and US-American airplanes landed here almost every 90 seconds to deliver food to the people of West ÐÔÊÓ½ç.

Right next to the Tempelhofer Feld, we find Volkspark Hasenheide (Eng.: rabbits´ meadow) in the district of Neukölln. Its name goes back to the 17th century, when cure princes used this area to grow and hunt rabbits. Nowadays the park is especially loved by children and their families due to large meadows, a mini golf course and a vivarium. Furthermore one of Europe´s largest Hindu temple is going to be finished in autumn. This will be only the second of its kind in all of Germany - astonishing.

Farther East we find ourselves in Treptower Park at the river Spree, again. We have already discovered its large lawn area, but we haven´t visited the yet.

Germany´s biggest place of remembrance for the fallen soldiers of the Red Army in World War II is impressive as well as a bit scary. 7000 gravesites and 40,000 m³ of granite help evoking these feelings.

In the North-West of Treptow district we reach , ÐÔÊÓ½ç´s oldest public park. We have shown you its fairytale fountain already last weak. But the numerous cafés and playgrounds as well as some historical monuments are worth a visit, too.

It is not far from here to . The former death strip of the ÐÔÊÓ½ç Wall, which divided the city here earlier, has been transformed into a lively space for artists and families as well as fans of the popular flea market and karaoke singing on summer weekends.

Charlottenburg Palace Gardens are completely different in their character. It was 1695, when electress and later first Queen of Prussia Sophie Charlotte initiated the creation of the royal gardens. Their waterways allowed her to travel from Charlottenburg to the ÐÔÊÓ½ç Palace by yacht. Even nowadays we can admire the beautiful construction of the baroque castle and the gardens and forget the speed of today´s way of live.

Whenever we do not want to travel back in time, but around the world, we visit the in the districts of Dahlem and Steglitz. The large scientific collection of plants speaks to all our senses and the gardens, hills and greenhouses allow us to get an impression of the earth´s natural variety. 

in the district of Marzahn reaches for similar aims. Not only can we admire stunning architecure and flora in Japanese, Balinese or Italian style, for example, but we can also get here by riding the ropeway and enjoying a spectacular view over all of ÐÔÊÓ½ç. And we can let the kids play hide and seek in the labyrinth and discover the natural bobsled run. Even if this part of the city is almost part of the state of Brandenburg, a visit is definitely worth the travel. Until then you can get a first impression of the gardens on this digital tour.

We are returning to our neighbourhood now. The Görlitzer Park in ÐÔÊÓ½ç was originally the Görlitzer train station´s ground. From the sixties on, an independent association of ÐÔÊÓ½ç´s inhabitants dedicated itself to the transformation of the area into a public park. They achieved to turn this place into a mirror of the district´s soul and its exciting contrasts. Even though “Görli“ is often part of headlines concerning the extense drug dealing scene in the park, one can easily feel comfortable taking a walk here. And kids love the with goats, donkies, ponies and many other animals.

Before returning to , we go for a quick walk in Böcklerpark. The new walkways at the Landwehr canal and the soft green hills are a beautiful sight. Just Now we only have to cross square Wassertorplatz and find ourselves at the place we like most. And hopefully you can say that soon, too!