Happy TravellerWelcome to Lichterfelde, a charming locality in the borough of Steglitz-Zehlendorf in Berlin, Germany. This affluent area is home to many embassies, landmark-protected buildings, and institutions like the Berlin Botanical Garden and Museum, the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND), the German Federal Archives, and the Charité university hospitals Benjamin Franklin Campus. Let’s dive into the history and sights of this hidden gem.
Lichterfelde has a rich history dating back to the 13th century when it was founded by Flemish settlers. In the 19th century, the two villa colonies of Lichterfelde-West and Lichterfelde-Ost were established, consisting entirely of villas or mansions for wealthy Berliners. These settlements and the historical villages of Lichterfelde and Giesensdorf were united in 1880 under the name Groß-Lichterfelde (Greater Lichterfelde). The district became the home to many famous families from the German nobility due to their connections with the Prussian Army, and in 1882, the Prussian Main Military academy, the Preußische Hauptkadettenanstalt, was established here. The world’s first commercially successful electrified tram line, the Gross-Lichterfelde tramway, opened between the Lichterfelde-Ost railway station and the Hauptkadettenanstalt in 1881. During World War II, Lichterfelde was the home of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, and the anti-Nazi Kreisauer Kreis resistance group surrounding Count Peter Yorck von Wartenburg and Helmuth James Graf von Moltke held their secret meetings inside Wartenburg’s apartment on Hortensienstraße 50, Lichterfelde-West, during the Third Reich. From 1945 to 1994, the Hauptkadettenanstalt was in use as Andrews Barracks by the United States Army’s Berlin Brigade. Today it belongs to the German Federal Archives (Bundesarchiv), headquartered in Koblenz.
Lichterfelde is divided into three quarters: Lichterfelde West, Lichterfelde Ost, and Lichterfelde Süd. Lichterfelde West is one of the wealthiest residential areas of Berlin, developed as a settlement of mansions and home to the Berlin Botanical Garden and embassies. Its 19th-century commercial area is centered around the Lichterfelde West railway station, which also serves nearby Free University of Berlin in neighboring Dahlem. Most of the commercial and residential buildings in Lichterfelde West are protected landmarks. Lichterfelde Ost, like Lichterfelde West, was also developed as a settlement of mansions, yet many of the estates were damaged in World War II. The Lichterfelde Ost railway station serves as a hub for regional rail and commuter rail and is surrounded by a large commercial area. Lichterfelde Süd was developed in the 1960s and 1970s and is largely made up of suburban housing estates, being a significant architectural deviation from the older mansion settlements. The Otto Lilienthal Memorial Park with the artificial conical hill, from which he started many of his flight attempts, is located in Lichterfelde Süd.
There are many sights to see in Lichterfelde, including the Otto Lilienthal monument, which is located in Schütte-Lanz-Straße 25, Berlin-Lichterfelde, built in memory of Otto Lilienthal, a German pioneer of human aviation who became known as the Glider King. He was the first person to make successful gliding flights. The Berlin Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum, Lichterfelde Manor, Lichterfelde West, a villa colony from the 19th century, Lichterfelde village church, and McNair Barracks, a former US Army installation in Lichterfelde, today a residential building, are also worth a visit. Lichterfelde is also home to many famous people, including actor Götz George, musician Peter Fox, and historian Gerd Tellenbach.
Come and explore the hidden gem of Lichterfelde, Germany, and discover its rich history, beautiful architecture, and stunning landscapes. Book your trip today and experience the charm of this unique locality in Berlin.
