BERLIN - Guiomatic

Districts East · Understand
EAST
Understand
Lichtenberg is a district in the east of Berlin. It was merged
together with Hohenschönhausen in 2001. Lichtenberg is
mostly a residential district, but because of its heterogeneity
there are all classes of people living there. The center of
Lichtenberg (where are some buildings left from the 19th
century) is home to the working class, as is the centre of
Hohenschönhausen (built mainly in the 70s in rather ugly GDR
socialist building block architecture). The middle class resides
in the greener areas like Friedrichsfelde, whereas in Karlshorst
you can watch some smaller mansions of the upper class.
Most interesting for tourists are the Stasi (secret service of the
GDR) relics/museums, the Tierpark (zoo) and some remarkable
architecture such as the Mies van der Rohe house.
Marzahn-Hellersdorf is a district in the northeast of Berlin.
It is largely a residential district for the underclass and the
middle class. It is famous for it's GDR socialist building
block architecture, but often ignored are some old, villagelike
parts. In general it is a very green district. There are
only a few interesting sites for visitors. Most interesting are
maybe the "Gärten der Welt", the Gründerzeitmuseum and the
Schlosspark Biesdorf with its small castle in late classical style.
A more thorough description of the district can be found on
the official website .
Get in
Use S-Bahn (lines 5, 7 and 75) or U-Bahn (U5) to get into
Lichtenberg. You can also use the regional train, but it's not as
regular as the S-Bahn. The stations of biggest interests are S-
Bahn station Lichtenberg (where also a few long distance trains
run from) and Tierpark (U5). S-Bahn Line 75, which goes also to
Hohenschönhausen.
The S-Bahn lines 75 or 5 and the U-Bahn line 5 will get you to
most parts, otherwise take the tram: the M6, for example, starts
in the city center (e.g. Alexanderplatz) and runs through almost
the entire district.
See
The Tierpark (former East-Berlin-Zoo) is spacier (rather like
a park with animals than a classical zoo, in fact it's one of the
biggest zoos in Europe) than the Zoo in the center of West-
Berlin. This Tierpark has nearly as many animals, but fewer
reptiles and aquatic animals. There is an old castle from the
late 17th century in the northeast of the Tierpark (Schloss
Friedrichsfelde). Get out at U-Bahn station Tierpark (U5).
Stasi (Secret Police) Museum This museum describes the
procedures applied by the DDR secret police. Get out at
Magdalenenstrasse (U5) and head to Ruschestrasse (no.
103).
Stasi (Secret Police) Prison (Gedenkstätte
Hohenschönhausen), Genslerstraße 66 (S-bahn to
Landsberger Alee, then tram 6 to Genslerstrasse, then walk
1km along Genslerstrasse, the prison is on the right), ☎ +49 -
(0)30 - 98 60 82 - 30, . Experience the Stasi Secret Police Prison
first-hand. Daily English-speaking tour between July, 1st and
November 14th, 2.30 p.m. €5.
German-Russian Museum This museum describes the
history of the GDR-Russian relationship during the Cold War.
Get out at S-Bahn station Karlshorst and go by bus 396
direction Tierpark (2 or 3 stations).
Mies van der Rohe Haus (Oberseestr. 60) The last Mies van
der Rohe building (a dwelling house) in Germany before
his emigration to the U.S. (1938). Now there are small
contemporary/modern art exhibitions.
Victoriastadt (West of S-Bahnhof Nöldnerplatz,
Kaskelstrasse) A relatively good and complete obtained (at
least regarding Berlin) residential quarter which was built
in 19th century. Partly under renovation. Remarkable: There
are six of the first ever made buildings built of concrete left
(1875) - but you can't make out a difference from the outside.
Marzahn and Hellersdorf
World's Garden (Gärten der Welt) in Marzahn . Inside you
can find a large and well established Chinese garden, a
Korean garden, a small Bali's Garden/Glasshouse, an Oriental
Garden with nice fountains and a cloister and a Japanese
garden which is a project by the city partnership of Berlin
and Tokyo. The latter has been built by Zen priests. Guided
tours take place on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
every 30 min from 10:30 until 12:30. The park is open daily
from 9:00-16:00 (in March and October until 18:00, from April
to September until 20:00). Although quite crowded at times,
there are not that many tourists so here's a chance to brush
up on your German skills. Entrance is 2 € in winter and 3 € in
summer. As the journey to this park will be around an hour
from the city center, don't miss this opportunity to complete
your picture of Berlin by seeing some of Berlin's clean and
quiet suburbs. Eisenacher Strasse, 99 - Berlin-Marzahn - S7
Marzahn (Zone B) + Bus 195 (before the departure ask to
the driver for the right stop). Notice that another Eisenacher
Strasse exists in Schöneberg, so don't be mislead by the U7
Station Eisenacher Strasse.
Gründerzeitmuseum (Museum of Wilhelminial style)
features many objects and even whole rooms in
wilhelminian style. To get there from the city center: U5 until
"Elsterwerdaer Platz", then bus 398 direction S Mahlsdorf
until "Hultschiner Damm", then walk 300 m.
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