Berlin’s Abandoned Olympic Village
Germany were originally awarded the 1916 Olympic Games, an event cancelled due to WW1. Fast forward to 1931 and Germany again won the rights, this time to host the 1936 games. Arch-propagandist Joseph Goebbels recognised an opportunity for some positive international optics, and the decision to build a village for the Olympic athletes was born. […]
Spaced out / Gut Kerkow
Gut Kerkow is an organic farmyard shop merged with an art gallery. In the quiet town of Angermünde, in the Uckermark District of Brandenburg, there’s a small ranch with a cheerful little farmyard shop attached to it. The building is full of natural light, which spills in through large windows, accentuating the wooden beams […]
Seenland Oder-Spree: lakeside lounging
In Germany’s largest aquatic area you can picnic on the water in summer and soak in the spa in winter The Seenland Oder-Spree is the largest aquatic area in Germany, with over 200 lakes and many rivers. It’s home to some of the standout names in Brandenburg country folklore – the Schlaubetal region, the Märkische […]
Lausitzer Seenland: from coal to canoes
A barren landscape becomes a world of water Lausitzer Seenland is a region in major transition. For around 150 years it was shaped by its mining and coal production, with large-scale excavations ravaging the local landscape. Fast forward to today, and you’ll find Europe’s largest artificial water territory has developed where mine pits once stood. […]
Havelland’s starry nights
This hiking and swimming hub gets even better after sunset Havelland is an area known for its outdoor activities, lakes, parks, hiking routes and, of course, the eponymous Havel river, which has recently been restored as part of Europe’s largest river restoration project. However, our focus here will be on nocturnal matters in this region. […]
Alexandrowka Haus 1 – Historical Russian tea house
Alexandrowka Haus 1 Just a short tram ride from the central station in Potsdam, there’s a Russian colony that was built by Friedrich Wilhelm III in 1826 for the members of his all-Russian choir. The colony has a collection of imitation “Izba” houses (Slavic cottages) as well as a church, a museum and our destination: […]
Eisenhüttenstadt: the flagship socialist city
Welcome to the largest monument in Germany – a sleepy city steeped in history. Founded in 1950, Eisenhüttenstadt is technically the newest city in Germany. It was known as Stalinstadt between 1953 and 1960, and was built to be a shining example of the socialist doctrine. Although the city resembled many of its Baroque predecessors, […]