Bernauer Strasse Berlin Wall Memorial

Berlin Wall Memorial Bernauer Strasse

Bernauer Strasse Berlin Wall Memorial (Berliner Mauer Gedenkstaette)

In between the areas of Gesundbrunnen and Mitte is Bernauer Strasse and what remains of the Berlin Wall in its original location.   The Berlin Wall ran along the length of the street, and the effect of this barrier can still be seen today.

In amongst the new housing are remains of the wall, a documentation centre, a watchtower and a sense of how much the wall impacted on the lives of the residents of Berlin. The area here is symbolic of the inhumanity of the Berlin Wall.  This is mostly due to the houses on the southern side of the street were in the Soviet sector, whilst the pavements in front of them belonged to the French sector. The site here at Bernauer Strasse is the only place in Berlin where visitors can still see a section of the border fortifications with all the various installations and barriers.

Berlin Wall Memorial Bernauer Strasse

bernauer st

Bernauer Strasse Berlin Wall Berliner Mauer gedenkstaette

Berlin Wall Memorial Bernauer Strasse

The Berliner Mauer Gedenkstaette building  – Visitor centre of the Berlin Wall Memorial is open to visiting (free entry).  This museum has lots of information as well as views over the wall giving you a “watchtower eye view” of Berlin.

Bernauer Strasse Berlin Wall Berliner Mauer gedenkstaette

Erected in 1961, the Berlin Wall on Bernauer Strasse was infamous as the site of escape attempts.

Bernauer Strasse Berlin Wall Berliner Mauer gedenkstaette

Church of Reconciliation in no man’s land.

Berlin Wall Memorial Bernauer Strasse

You can visit the Chapel of Reconciliation and exposed foundations of a former residential building which was part of the border wall until it was demolished.

Berlin Wall Memorial Bernauer Strasse
Chapel of Reconciliation
Berlin Wall Memorial Bernauer Strasse
Remains of the original church

On 22 August 1961 Ida Siekmann became the first casualty at the Berlin Wall.  Ida died after she jumped out of her third floor at Bernauer Straße 48.  Ten people are known to have died trying to escape.  There is a memorial to these deaths at the entrance to Swinemünder Straße.

Bernauer Strasse Berlin Wall Berliner Mauer gedenkstaette

 

Berlin Wall Memorial Bernauer Strasse

Berlin Wall Memorial Bernauer StrasseThe underground station at Bernauer Strasse was a ghost station, that is the trains ran through without stopping at the station due to its position at the wall.  The station re-opened on 12 April 1990. Berlin Wall Memorial Bernauer Strasse

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Where

Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer
Bernauer Straße 111
13355 Berlin

When

Visitor Centre:
Tues-Sun: 10 AM – 6 PM

Exhibition at the memorial site:
Mon-Sun: 8 AM – 10 PM

Transport

S-Bahn Nordbahnhof  – S1, S2, S25 and  U-Bahn Bernauer Strasse U8

Tram: S Bahn  Station / Berlin Wall Memorial (M10), Bus: 245, 247

Cost

Free


Looking for some more Cold War history?

cold war berlin

Guide to everything we know about Berlin

berlin guide

emma

Emma

Hello!

I am Emma and with my husband Mark write Foodie Explorers, which is a food and travel website.

I am a member of the Guild of Food Writers and British Guild of Travel Writers.

We have a wide range of judging experience covering products, hotels and have judged, for example, for Great Taste Awards and Scottish Baker of the Year.

Along the way Mark gained WSET Level 2 in Wine and I have WSET Level 2 in Spirits as well as picking up an award with The Scotsman Food and Drink Awards.    

Usually I can be found sleeping beside a cat.

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