About Treptower Park
This park was opened in 1888. It was very innovative and exclusive for its time, and today it is one of the most popular promenades in Berlin, especially in summer season. Boat rides are particularly interesting for visitors of Treptower Park. Yet, if you don’t like boating, you could stroll through a four-kilometer-long path along the Spree River.
When to visit Treptower Park
You should visit Treptower Park on a clear day, to enjoy the long walk. It is a huge, open space, and you can explore it from dusk till dawn. Check the calendar, and try to visit some of the celebrated festivals which are organized here. Use public transport to go to Treptower Park, because it is pretty far from the usual tourist track in Berlin.
Why to visit Treptower Park
There is an excellent traditional restaurant in Treptower Park, with a nice terrace, overlooking the so called Island of Youth (die Insel der Jugend). It is a small, artificially created island, famous for various youth facilities located here. Many concerts, parties and festivals are held here, as well as theater performances.
You should proceed to the Abbey Bridge, a notable historic monument. It was completed in 1916, to replace a ferry, which was used to transfer visitors to Spree Island. It is also the place where you can rent pedal boats along with the rowing ones. On the other side of Spree River you can see a huge power plant, and the Stralau peninsula, often called “the appendix of Berlin”.
If you continue to explore Treptower Park on foot, you will eventually reach a big play area, with vast meadows, and a big lake on its southern end. Here you can find Archenhold Observatory, built in 1909. It displays the longest refracting telescope in the world (21 meters long). In addition, there’s a rose garden, with its 25,000 roses, various sculptures and a fountain. If you’re looking for a romantic place, you could go to the puppet theater, or enjoy in organized tales around campfire.
Significance of Treptower Park
The most important monument in Treptower Park is the Soviet War Memorial. This massive, extraordinary complex was constructed between 1947 and 1949. It stands in the middle of the park, and covers the area of about 100,000 square meters. It was established as a cemetery for around 80,000 soldiers of Soviet army, who lost their lives in the Battle of Berlin.
