Explore one of the few remaining bunkers from WWII. Anne was born in East Berlin and came of age in the unified city. When researching my trip there I came across the Berlin Underworlds Association (Berliner Unterwelten) a society for the exploration and documentation of subterranean culture. You wont get stuck or lost, or be breaking any laws when it comes to the exploration of abandoned areas. Reservation is not possible and tickets may only be purchased on the day of the tour. I even met locals who had said they had wanted to take this tour for the past 10 years to better understand their past. No tiket sales on site. I applaud the conservation effort and highly recommend all of the tours they offer. Go back in time and travel through the history of the cellars, the breweries, the postal network, the sewage system until the fall of the Berlin Wall. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. This bunker, which was built into the U-Bahn tunnel in 1941/42, was designed to give shelter to roughly 1,300 Berliners during bombing raids: however, sometimes over three times that number found shelter here. The U-Bahn (subway) station was built before the war and parts of it then transformed into an air-raid shelter. Guided tours, visitor information. We were in Berlin in April this year and came across this tour by accident. Such a turbulent surface can only conceal equally turbulent foundations. Berliner Unterwelten e.V. Paris Here you will hear tales of betrayal in addition to the story of the two most successful tunnels. During the Cold War, this underground system of tunnels and bunkers became essential for both sides and in some cases, were renovated, improved and prepared for a possible conflict between the Allies and the Soviet Union. Learn More. One of them, with a capacity of 3,000 people, is still operational. Miami (The Berlin Underworld Association). Adults: 18 (US$ 18.40)
Inset photo: Dietmar Arnold. According to the And the guy who guided us through was very passionate, you could see that he was tired but still speaking with emotion. Our guide spoke excellent English and the tour was fascinating. She has an intimate relationship with her city of birth and still calls Berlin home. This tour is an introduction to the underground worlds of Berlin. Train: Gesundbrunnen, lines S1, S2, S25, S41 andS42. On the streets of Berlin history is present everywhere. 2022 My Guide. - Forbes and The Washington Post, | From war bunkers and air-raid shelters to the remains of an anti-aircraft fortress, subterranean Berlin plays host to a wealth of history. You can learn more about the Drivers Bunker, the Speer Bunker, the Goebbels Bunker and the Fhrerbunker, supported by historical overviews, construction plans and interviews with historians and witnesses. Guests from English speaking countries really appreciate the translation services provided by this company. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Things to know before taking the bunker tours: Please note: The tours cover difficult periods of German history and are conceived for adults. With the construction of the Wall, U-Bahn lines in East Berlin were severed in their connection to the West. Other tours can be found on the website. It is a unique opportunity to see places you wouldn't think of or that are not freely accessible. The tunnels are so fascinating and capture a time when life was much different. English, the Berlin Underworlds Association), which sought to document, explore, Although this tour is available all year long, scheduled dates are subject to change. Also tours in other languages. There more than seven escape tunnels were attempted within a distance of just 350 meters of each other. A disastrous mixture of the wrong balance, uneven weight and constant clanging noise. Book it, because it's fantastic. The headquarters of Berliner Unterwelten and the start of the most popular bunker tour is near the transportation hub Gesundbrunnen (with U-Bahn-and S-Bahn station) (map). Los Angeles ABOVE: Tour 1 takes you to a bunker in the Ask jordansbulls about Berliner Unterwelten, Ask Alexandra W about Berliner Unterwelten, Ask TashaBarbre about Berliner Unterwelten, Ask Cirleoflife about Berliner Unterwelten, Historic tour company, mainly modern history. They have been working since 1997 to protect, preserve and document the underground of the German capital. We were told about how people cleverly hid among the tracks and side walls ready to jump on passing trains and how the guards on the Eastern side would defect and while on duty, use this route as a means to escape. Over 14,000 visitors to Berlin have taken a tour from Free Tours by Foot. Many West Berlin students had great escape operations in place using the sewage systems to help their friends trapped in the East. READ MORE: Best Place to See the Berlin Wall the viewing locations and the questions it makes you ask. is an organization that provides, among other events, guided tours to all of the berliner underworld. Sewers, brewery cellars, U-Bahn and S-Bahn lines, railroad tunnels, They aslo house a permanent exhibition called 'Myths of Germania', highlighting the urban plannigin Berlin during the Nazi era. If I'd been in Berlin longer, I would have liked to go on them too. During the tour, youll learn what the bunkers were used for during the war, who used them and how many people fit inside them during the last days of the war. Berliner Unterwelten has been working since 1997 to uncover, and preserve some of these historic underground places for future generations and part of their work is providing tours to these fascinating places. Afterward, travel via the subway to see what a more modern bunker looks like. During the Cold War, West Germany feared a nuclear war with the Eastern Bloc. This tour follows the traces of the Cold War in the underground. One of the most fascinating parts of the tour was wandering along a huge underground corridor only to emerge from a side door on the wall of the underground station, which most people probably walk past daily and dont give a seconds thought as to what lays beneath. Kunsthaus Tacheles (2.6 km) 10:00 It is a must-see visit if youre in Berlin for a few days. Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions. New York City Imboden. A majority of guests who leave positive reviews are most impressed by their tour guides. What Berlin Underground Tours Can You Go On? See the bunker for yourself and learn all about its functions over the years with the help of a knowledgeable tour guide. Photography is not allowed, which is why I am using images granted for use by the Berliner Unterwelten. "Best of the Web" This was the best tour that we did in our 4 day stay. You cannot book a tour in advance, so we recommend you get to the Museum a little early to make sure you get a place in the tour. Although they don't offer all of their tours in English, most customers are just happy that there are a few historically significant trips they can enjoy. This website was developed byCreative Geeks. The first tunnel was dug in December 1961 and the last one in 1985, four years before the borders were opened. Even if you're not well versed in the history of this city, your tour guide will provide a plethora of information about each location. Ticket office: A pavilion at the southern exit of the U8 station Gesundbrunnen, Brunnenstrasse 105. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Copyright 2021 Berlin Poche. Looking at the world with a different angle to change perceptions of misunderstood places, for the best in travel. Make sure to use one before starting the tour. Some of the equipment inside still works to this day, standing as an example of living history. Visit the civil defense shelter known as Blochplatz and learn about how it was used during WWII. Brunnenstrae 105, Or the former course and restricted area of the Berlin Wall, of which some remains are still visible. With Berlin known for its alternative scene and unravelling of a dark past, this is a different way of seeing it. By explaining the practical preparations made to help people survive, this tour attempts to make the realities and horrors of such conflict easy to comprehend. Air raid shelter with Berliner Unterwelten. Berlin's fascinating political history as you've never experienced before. Rome For visitors, the guided Nashville So it had bomb shelters built and old bunkers converted for this purpose. Although they have since either been demilitarized or blown up, the remaining debris still has a story to tell. If it wasn't already obvious, most of the visitors who enjoy these tours are very interested in military history. This is at no extra cost to you and allows this site to keep running. Only one of them, located in Humboldthain Park, partially survived at the end of the war. The guide was both passionate and knowledgeable about the history and expertly clued up on the facts, figures and questions presented by the citys complex history. Students: 13 (US$ 13.30), Tower of Protection to Mountain of Rubble Tour
Berliner Unterwelten are a cultural association. Leading Culture and Adventure Travel Blog by Becki Enright. Also tours in other languages. Berliner Unterwelten offer a permanent exhibition on "Germania", Hitler's pharaonic reconstruction project of Berlin, as well as other special exhibitions. A great tour and the entry fee helps to open more undiscovered areas of Berlin. I also recommend that you check out the abandoned brewery near Schneweide station (which you have to sneak in), and also the Stasi museum. The determination resulting in the same people risking their lives to dig another tunnel in a different location months later to help others. Learn about World War II and the Cold War while you tour the citys subterranean. Required fields are marked *. Dubai San Francisco The Berlin Underworlds Association (Verein Berliner Unterwelten) was founded in 1997 and is devoted to exploring a unique chapter in the history of Berlin: it performs research into the various structures found in the city's underground and makes them available for guided tours. Tours in English: all year, every day (except Monday) at 13:00 additionally on Tuesday at 11:00. tours are the main attraction, and they offer a fascinating glimpse into a world other subterranean spaces are located around the city, with an especially high On the tour we visit an air raid shelter from WW II that was renovated in the early 1980 s. Here, with the help of various objects and photos, we will deal with some related themes. It is definitely worth paying a visit. At the beginning of the Second World War, Hitler assured Berlin inhabitants that the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) would impede any country from bombarding the capital; however, when Nazi Germany began to lose its first conflicts, the authorities began to build bunkers in the principal cities, especially in Berlin. 90 minutes. All rights reserved. Both events displaced a lot of families and put several people in peril; guests really appreciate the opportunity to hear their stories and discover what life was like for some of the citizens of Berlin. Browse through realistic reconstructions or authentic rooms and places. The main season for tours is April October and they run from Monday Friday between 10 AM 4 PM and on Saturday, Sunday and National Holidays between 9 AM and 4 PM. For example, a number of photographs and items focus on the "Fahrerbunker," which belonged to the Reich Chancellery and was discovered in 1990. Guests are drawn to their tours for a variety of reasons that we will explore in further detail below. When the Stasi lost too many men they eventually locked guards on duty in a room with a small window looking out towards the tracks. Students: 13 (US$ 13.30), Bunker Tour
Massive constructions, which could accommodate up to 10,000 civilians. Top photo: Holger Happel. The office is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All the tours in foreign languages start in the entrance hall. An infinite fascination that I love to share! Today, the organization offers guided tours, exhibitions, and Adults: 6 (US$ 6.10)
authors of This website uses cookies to improve your browsingexperience and analyze the use of the website. In addition, daily guided tours on various topics are organized in German (but also in other languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch and Danish) Some guided tours are seasonal. If you click through or buy something via one of them, I may receive a small commission. The last Bunker I went to was the Mutter-Kind-Bunker, in Fichtestrae (Kreuzberg) and it was touching. Join them for an unforgettable tour of a WW2 bunker or go on search of cold war shelters and subway stations. They offer tours in several different languages and I must say I was impressed Not only because it is amazing to experience how people really wanted to survive during the Great Wars and Cold War periods, but how they managed to build shelters and rebuild entire cities You really get this strong feeling when you visit the bunkers, it takes you places. Philadelphia Two of the permanent underground tours arranged by the association are especially connected to the Cold War period. Your email address will not be published. The tours are not barrier-free accessible due to the structural conditions. Your guide will also tell you fascinating and startling true stories that happened underground. In 1997, a small group of urban archaeologists founded Thousands were built in the city to provide safety and despite being able to see one, its still unknown how many more exist that have yet to be found. Even though the Berlin Wall is far from being subterranean architecture, escape tunnels - more than 70 played an important role in peoples way into freedom. Among many other things, guests are invited to visit WWII bunkers and so-called "ghost train stations" ("Geisterbahnhfe") and also to find out about Cold War escape attempts to the West via tunnels and canals. Discover what life during wartime was like for the average citizen of Berlin. It is offered in English, German, Spanish, Italian and Dutch. Our Complete Website Solution frees up the time, cost and technical expertise required to build and operate your own successful online travel business. Even though lofts have since been built above this location, the inside remains largely the same as it was almost 80 years ago. Subway, pipes and dug tunnels: You will be impressed by the boldness of some refugees, by the tenacity of some people who risked their lives to face an authoritarian regime in order to be reunited with their families. The guide Sean was funny and informative. If you are interested in becoming a local travel partner for your territory and would like to find out more then click for more info about our Website Business Opportunity. Immerse yourself in a vanished world in these moments. The Berliner Unterwelten e.V. Amsterdam They are recommended for youths aged 14 and older. You will also be able to see the ruins from the Second World War, which the members of the Association are still cleaning up. Not only do you get to grips with the citys history, but you get to learn about it from a truly interesting perspective and to understand a complex time in modern history in that way is priceless. For those who dont have the time for the tour or who want to see a reconstruction of what the bunkers that no longer exist look like, the Berlin Underworlds Association run virtual guided tours. These tours are described below. Our guide was Spanish but spoke German and English very well and was very enthusiastic about the tour and the historical significance of information he was providing for us. It was rather eerie, but absolutely fascinating. It shows an air-raid shelter, a bunker and a collection of objects from the Second World War and before, which were found during excavations by members of the association. The Berlin Underworld Association arranges several tours in the Berlin underground. I want them all PLUS general travel tips. more, City Sightseeing Berlin Hop-On Hop-Off Bus. It's scary and interesting to learn about the under ground air raids. Their focus is on World War II and the Berlin Wall. These members research and make the underground bunkers accessible to the public by giving tours in various languages, offering an exhibit as well as through publications. shelters, escape tunnels, modern electricity and communications tunnels, and The guide was knowledgeable and professional and the tour very interesting. The exhibit is open April thru November and December 26 through January 10 (closed on New Years Day) 11 am thru 6 pm (last entrance 5 pm) and is EUR 6.00 for adults. Initially, the grating was a square shape within the circle of the tunnel meaning there was just enough space to squeeze under through the sewage. Rectangular panels on pavement and in the grass show the route of an escape tunnel in Berlin. Discover two authentic nuclear bunkers and their equipment that have stood the test of time. The lights were turned out as if to create the atmosphere of nighttime escape and two strong guys were asked to carefully and quietly lift the heavy lid. Put on your warm clothes and comfortable shoes and we'll take you to explore the depths of the city! It's a non profit non government organization which made me like it even more. The sewage system, gas, water electricity, the subway, pneumatic tubes and in the case of Berlin the air raid shelters and bunkers from World War II. The Flak tower tour is not for the faint of heart or feet. About prices: See the website. Four of these outings are 90 minutes and the last one is 120 minutes long. This tour gives you an insight into the history of the escape tunnels, and delves into the subject of the subterranean border in the subway and sewer systems, which were used by those trying to flee the east. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Find out which escape tunnels were most successful and discover tales of betrayal that you may not have heard about. Berliner Unterwelten offer several modern history themed tours in different languages. We went inside a part-destroyed flaktower (look at photos of them from the wartime, they were just incredible), exploring two levels. - 18:00. Accessible only with a guided tour, different tour hours during the season. More than just a list of explanations and figures on excerpts from history, you will relive the stories of those who tamed the underground corridors of Berlin. / Holger Happel. Learn why it is so popular while you admire its archaeological findings from the Middle East and samples of Islamic art. If you exit from the S-train station, it'll be to your left. You will catch a glimpse at a room that formed part of an air-raid shelter on the Berlin tunnels tour, although you will have to take the underground bunker tour (Tour 3) to delve more into that part of the history and see what relics of these hideouts are left. A number of other guided tours are only available in German. My Guide Berlin is part of the global My Guide Network of Online & Mobile travel guides. This tour looks back on the happy and sometimes unhappy attempts of East Germans who tried to escape to the West via the Berlin underground tunnels. This shelter was intended to protect citizens in case of nuclear war, and it served multiple purposes. New Orleans Historic Sites, Points of Interest & Landmarks. an old pneumatic dispatch system, World War II bunkers, Cold War air-raid Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin (3.1 km). The tour lasts for about 1.5hours and is only 10 euro. It's located right next to the U-train station. Washington DC. In West Berlin civil defence shelters were reactivated or newly built in preparation for a possible nuclear war. Prague We are now in 120+ Destinations and Growing. My Guide Berlin is part of the global My Guide Network of Online & Mobile travel guides. This tour explores some of the towers built under Hitler's command to defend Berlin from enemy aircraft during the war. Many thanks to the Berlin Underworlds Association for allowing me the opportunity to attend one of their tours. In the room underground was a manhole cover, the same as the ones you see in the city today and what would have been in use back then. Chicago The Berlin Underworlds Association also has four floors of exhibits showcasing other underground facilities, such as the pipe mail network, brewery cellars and sewers. 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