Prenzlauer Berg is an attractive district in the former East Berlin, once home to revolutionaries and artists, and now famous for its rich historical setting and its artistic and cultural attractions.

Sights in Prenzlauer Berg

It would be impossible to visit Prenzlauer  Berg and not take notice of the Berlin Wall. The largest part of the wall can be seen in the East Side gallery, while another piece runs along Niederkirchner Strasse. The Memorial in Bernauer Strasse is well worth viewing, as is the line of white crosses behind the Reichstag, which commemorates all those who died trying to flee over the Wall to West Berlin. A visit to Mauerpark, once no-man’s-land between East and West Berlin and now a park, is also bound to bring back memories of the Wall.

The Gethsemanekirche is an example of late nineteenth century architecture, and it is greatly admired for its design in the shape of an octagon. Great acoustics also make this a good choice for musical events. Those who are more reflective may enjoy walking the grounds and viewing the statues and memorials.

The ongoing restoration of the Privatsynagoge in Brunnenstrasse is a testament to the strength of the Jewish population of Berlin. The synagogue was severely damaged during the Nazi pogroms of 1938-9, and was then used as a warehouse for the remainder of the Second World War, before finally being used by a cosmetics manufacturer during the Berlin Wall era. After reunification it was restored to the Jewish community, and is now again being used as a place of worship.

Other Prenzlauer Berg Sights

The Alter Garnisonsfriedhof in Klein RosenthalerStrass is Berlin's oldest cemetery and was redeveloped as a part. The gravestones can still be seen among the walkways. It has long been the burial place of Prussian officers and in the building near the cemetery gates is a small exhibition that tells the story of this ancient cemetery.

Another cemetery to visit is the Judischer Friedhof Weissensee in Herbert-BaumStrasse, the world’s biggest Jewish Cemetery. There is a memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, as well as a tomb for torah scrolls destroyed in 1938 by the Nazis. The other Jewish cemetery, in Schonhauser Allee, suffered a lot through allied bombings, although the tombs of famous people may still be seen there.