Prenzlauer Berg is a charming district in Berlin and was formerly part of East Berlin and is central to a weekend itinerary in Berlin. During the Cold War and the days of the infamous Berlin Wall, it was associated with East Germany's counterculture. It was an important site for the peaceful German revolution that brought down the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Today, it is one of Berlin's best-preserved districts and a favored destination for travelers visiting Berlin. It offers one of the city's best cultural, architectural, and culinary experiences. It is perhaps the nightlife capital of Berlin, which is the nightlife capital of Europe.
History Of Prenzlauer Berg
Today Prenzlauer Berg is dominated by Wilhelmine buildings that there built at the return of the century during the German Empire's powerful growth from around 1889 to 1905. In fact, over 80% of the housing buildings in this district were constructed before 1948 - before the Iron Curtain really came down. Amazingly these buildings survived or were extensively repaired after the fall of Berlin to the Soviets and the massive Allied firebombings of Germany. Other parts of the city were virtually wiped out by these campaigns.
- Old Buildings: Has Many Of Berlin's Old Buildings That Survived The War
Additionally, some of the apartment buildings are were built during Communist rule and are of Socialist Classical architectural style.
It's well known that Eastern Germany was much poorer than its capitalist and thriving Western counterpart. Thus at the time of German Reunification, the buildings were largely dilapidated and gray and had not been restored or even repainted for 50 odd years since the 1930s. They were sold off to various private investors who largely bought them as rental properties. They also invested in renovating them. This whole process drove up the local cost of living and the original population has mostly moved away and has been replaced.
As time progressed and the 21st century wore on, many of the district's empty lots became scenes for Berlin's famous street culture adding to its bohemian character. Today over 300 of the buildings in the area are protected as historic monuments.
Dining Options
Today Germany has had a large influx of immigrants from around the world and many of these immigrants have moved to the main cities like Berlin. So tourists in Prenzlauer Berg are spoiled for culinary choice with a vast selection of restaurants from around the world to pick from. International cuisine options include:
- Turkish Cuisine
- Italian Cuisine
- Tex-Mex Cuisine
- Vietnamese Cuisine
- Arabic Cuisine
And of course, there is always German cuisine for those looking for local dining options (though not too many options in this part of the city).
Vibrant Nightlife
Perhaps today Berlin is most renowned for its vibrant nightlife - and is sometimes considered the nightlife capital of Europe or even the world. Some of the best of Berlin's nightlife is also to be found in Prenzlauer Berg and it is concentrated around the U-Bahn station Eberswalder Strasse. The nightlife here is considered to be distinct from that of the rest of Berlin. Some of the popular clubs and bars are:
- Last Cathedral: Decorated Gothic/Metal Bar With Loud Music And Guests Dressed In Black
- Schönwetter: Beach Bar Popular With Visitors To Mauerpark
- Blackland: Offers A Taste Of The Hardcore Side Of Berlin. A Popular Rock Metal Pub/Concert Venue
- Duncker Club: Metal And Dark Rock Bar That Deliberately Looks Debilitated
Prenzlauer Berg is the scene of countless pubs, cafes, restaurants, and galleries. For those who enjoy the city life, it is impossible to be bored here or run out of things to do or new clubs or pubs to visit. It is also the heart of Berlin's art culture. Shopping is also popular here with its old cobblestoned streets being lined with street-style fashion designers.
- Bonus: Prenzlauer Berg Is Centrally Located
Landmarks Of Prenzlauer Berg
The area has a number of large churches. One of the best known is the Gethsemane Church which gained notoriety for its role in the peaceful revolution that ended in a united Germany. Other taller churches here include the Segenskirche and the Immanuelkirche.
- Date Built: 1891-1893 Gethsemane Church
Germany's largest synagogue is located here. This is particularly notable as it managed to survive the Holocaust. It was built around the same time as the other Wilhelmine buildings around it in 1903 and survived the 1938 pogrom as it was tightly surrounded by residential buildings that the rampaging Nazis didn't want to destroy. It was desecrated during the war and confiscated from the Jews. It returned to being a synagogue immediately after the war in July 1945 by the surviving Jews. It was renovated at various times throughout the Cold War but was fully restored for its 100th year anniversary.