Berlin Wall Memorial
The Berlin Wall Memorial (Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer), not to be confused with the East Side Gallery, is an open air memorial running alongside Bernauer Straße. This memorial will give you a real sense of what it was like for the people who lived next to the wall as it went up. You'll also learn how a number of them escaped.
Located at the corner of Ackerstraße, it is the only remaining portion of the wall where the border grounds have also been preserved.
Here you'll find not a section of the Berlin Wall, but also the inner wall, signal fence, border control road and guard tower, all used to deter anyone from trying to cross.
Don't miss the Visitor Centre and the Documentation Centre complete with a viewing platform. They are located across the street in the area that belonged to West Berlin when the city was divided. Entry to these is free and the multimedia experience is enlightening and well worth seeing.
On the border grounds you will find the Chapel of Reconciliation and also the foundation of an apartment building whose facade served as a portion of the wall until the early 1980s.
This area is also where the first chunks were broken off the Wall on the historical nights of November 10th and 11th 1989.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: NoBerlin Wall Memorial (Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer) Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Thursday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Friday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Saturday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Address: Bernauer Str. 111, 13355 Berlin, Germany
Phone: 030 213085123
Official Website: Berlin Wall Memorial (Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer)
Berlin Wall Memorial (Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer) Reviews
Rated out of 5
I ended up here instead of The Wall Museum. But i am glad i did. The memorial has a special place in the history and reading through the scriptures did enlighten me a lot. Again very close to the train station and rich in historical artefacts.
Tip: Be aware of the train timings if you are staying on the east side or far off places.
Avinash Nair (Avi) - 2 weeks ago
Very informative site about history of Berlin around 1960-1990. It is completely free to visit, theres and indoor part of it and also it continues outdoors. There are photos from that time and also small interviews and contemporary videos which was relly touching at some points.
Dóra Vincze - 2 weeks ago
It is difficult to stand there and not feel the weight of history. The Wall was not just concrete. It was a system of fear, separation and control. It divided families, communities and a country. It reminded the world how far governments can go when power is placed above people.
What struck me most was the memorialisation. The names and pictures of the 136 people who died trying to cross the Wall are engraved and displayed with dignity. They are not reduced to statistics. They are remembered as human beings, with faces, names and stories.
That is the power of memory. It refuses to let silence win.
Zenzele Ndebele - a month ago
An amazing place to visit.
It has a lot of explanations and shows what the wall was like.
The actual museum is free to visit and is perfect for the location and the explanations it provides. You can walk to the top and get a view over the remaining watchtower to feel what the wall was really like.
Paul Cuthbert - 2 months ago
Amazing historical site that tells you about story of the past. Very well kept, clean. You can learn about this memorial from the articles posted on site but having tour guide would be good idea to get a bit more understanding. I come on Monday, the museum and observation deck is closed.
Wayan Warta - 3 months ago
Directions
How to get to Berlin Wall Memorial (Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer) by U-Bahn, S-Bahn or MetroTram
Nearest U-Bahn, S-Bahn or MetroTram Line(s): S1, S2, S25, U6, U8, M10
Nearest U-Bahn, S-Bahn or MetroTram Station(s): U Bernauer Straße, S Berlin Nordbahnhof, U Schwartzkopffstraße
From Berlin Nordbahnhof: Exit to your right and go north through Elisabeth-Schwarzhaupt-Platz (plaza), right on Julie-Wolfthorn-Straße and continue on Bernauer Straße.
From U BernauerStraße Station: on U8 exit and go left onto Bernauer Straße where you can walk for about 8 minutes or wait for the M10 Tram and ride for about 1 minute followed by an additional brief walk.
From Schwartzkopffstraße Station: on U6 exit and head southeast on Chausseestraße, left on Schwartzkopffstraße, continue on the path into the park, go right on the next path in the park and follow it to Bernauer Straße and go left.
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Photo Gallery
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Photo Credit: August Brill - cc license via Flickr
