Walk along the former German-German border

In July 1945, the Potsdam Conference took place at Cecilienhof Palace, symbolizing the end of World War II in Europe. The agreement between the three victorious powers reorganized the world after 1945, dividing it into two opposing camps. This ultimately led to the construction of the Berlin Wall, which ran directly through what is now the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Potsdam. It wasn't until 44 years later that the "Iron Curtain" fell. After the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, thousands of people streamed across the Glienicke Bridge to East and West to celebrate the end of the division and, a year later, German reunification.
The tour offers insights into this turbulent period and follows the traces of the former border. The Glienicke Bridge is a suitable starting point. It became famous as the site of spy exchanges between the Soviet Union and the USA during the Cold War. The border strip is still visible in the middle of the bridge today, along with the different paint colors that bear witness to the former division. The route continues along Schwanenallee, past Quapphorn with its reconstructed Hermitage and the dairy, to the former border control tower at the Bertini-Enge. From 1965 to 1990, this was a central border crossing for shipping traffic between East Germany and West Berlin. Today, only a few remnants of the fortifications of the almost insurmountable border security system remain. Eight information panels along the tour commemorate this era and provide poignant background information.

Tip: Two audio tours in the free "Potsdam City Guide" app enrich the tour with interesting background information. They cover personal stories, escape attempts, and other locations along the route that hold fascinating tales.

Duration: 1,5 h
Distance: about 2,5 km
Start: Glienicke Bridge
Goal: Bertinistraße
arrival withPublic transport: Glienicker Brücke stop
Departure withPublic transport: Glienicker Brücke stop