Most people instantly think of the Fernsehturm when searching for a panoramic view of Berlin. While the view is certainly breathtaking, and various alternatives are available in ‘downtown’ Berlin, there’s a hidden gem some twenty kilometers southeast from it. Located on the smaller of two hills formed by glaciers during the last Ice Age, the Müggelturm offers a lesser-known and distinctive panoramic view of Berlin.

Built between 1959 and 1961, the tower was built to replace the previous tower that had suffered severe damage due to fire. With its restaurant and sun terrace, the tower became a touristic highlight in East-Berlin with 240,000 visitors yearly. The glory days of the tower have long past, however, and the nearly 30 meters tall structure is in a decaying state. Although the structural integrity of the tower (seems) to be maintained, mostly due to a 2005 overhaul of the tower, many of the panoramic windows on the intermediate floors are already broken or missing, and a new layer of paint wouldn’t hurt. The adjacent buildings, which once housed the restaurant, are in an even worse state and are not accessible.

After walking up the 126 steps of the tower (which add up to the 111 or 374 steps that lead up to the tower base, depending on which direction you’re coming from), you will enjoy a view ranging up to 50 kilometers depending on weather. To the north are a bunch of Soviet residential flats. To the northwest you’ll see Berlin’s skyline behind Köpenick. To the southwest one can clearly distinguish the Schönefeld airport. The other directions are characterized by small villages and woodlands. In the immediate surroundings, one can see the many lakes that Köpenick is famous for.
If you’re going to visit the Müggelturm, you can either take the bus up to X96 Rübezahl and walk the last kilometer to the tower. To reach this bus, change either at Köpenick or at U5 Elsterwedaer Platz. Alternatively, a visit to the tower can be combined with a hike through the surrounding woods, which is a popular activity on sunny days. The stations of Grünau, using ferry F12 (public transport tickets including zone B suffice, alternative buy a short trip ticket on board) to cross the Dahme river, or Friedrichshagen, crossing the Spree river through the 1927 Spreetunnel, are within an hour’s walking distance.
Read the rest of this entry »