Did you ever think about magical places in Berlin, Germany and what there is to see for travelers? Among many stunning places worth visiting, one of them is Teufelsberg. Being an artificial hillExisting on the outskirts of Berlin, Teufelsberg has a rather interesting history with stunning views which attract tourists from all over the world.
Teufelsberg Part One: The History
The name Teufelsberg literally means Devil’s Mountain and it was given probably due to the hilly terrain of the vicinity of Grunewald forest. Towards the middle of the century after the Second World War, Berlin was split into East and West Germany by the Berlin Wall. While war raged on, a plan was standardized where a synthetic mountain would be built out of the rubble left from the battle giving birth to Teufelsberg.
At the beginning, the Nazis planned to build a military technical college on the Teufelsberg however the construction was stopped for several reasons: lack of funds and the end of the war. In the end the site was taken over by the United States National Security Agency (NSA) during the Cold War and a listening station was constructed on top of the hill to eavesdrop on East Germany, Russia and other neighboring countries.
Exploring the Ruins
Today, there is desolate listening station on the hill of Teufelsberg that reminds of-cold war history. When strolling through the site, one is faced by modern graffiti paintings on the walls of the buildings themselves, which in combination with abandonment give a unique look to the site. This is particularly the case due to the coexistence of graffiti and the physical structures left behind following the Cold war.
Despite the building being filled with countless stairs, one of the attractions of a visit to Teufelsberg is the availability to get to the top floor of the main tower. They include the Brandenburg Gate, the television tower and the lush Grunewald forest from this vantage point, and then we pick up our cameras for further photography. Always make sure to pack along your camera because this is a great place for taking pictures which you will not want to leave out.
Tips for Your Visit
Here are a few tips to enhance your experience at Teufelsberg:
- Wear comfortable shoes: During the visit of the site you will happen across different irregularities of the ground and different obstacles such as debris and therefore should wear appropriate and strong shoes.
- Bring water and snacks: It has no amenities within its premises; therefore visitors are advised to bring their something to drink to keep them hydrated during the tour.
- Visit during daylight hours: It was more colorful to see the impressive views and the graffiti art on this island so therefore, it is recommended to visit this place during the day.
- Take a guided tour: One can wander around independently, but when choosing a guided tour, one may gain a lot of additional information about the place, related history.
- Respect the surroundings: The natural structure of the investigated place is associated with historical footage, hence they should be treated with respect. Do not destroy, deface or mar any property and do not throw any litter on the ground.
Conclusion
Teufelsberg is lesser known place located in Berlin, Germany with history and art now combined with the best views. Discovering the now defunct NSA listening station is fun both historically and figuratively, and gives a new spin on exploring this city. Therefore anyone visiting Berlin should consider including Teufelsberg in the list of tourist attractions to visit when they are in town.
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