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GDR-tower at Berlin Hohenschönhausen Memorial
GDR-tower at Berlin Hohenschönhausen Memorial © Gedenkstätte Berlin-Hohenschönhausen

Lichtenberg by Bike

This tour through Alt- and Neu-Hohenschönhausen in the district of Lichtenberg combines idyllic nature with German history. Cycle through green villages and fields and enjoy the tranquillity of numerous small bodies of water.

On this route, you can not only cycle through the greenery in a relaxed way on well-maintained cycle paths, but also visit the historic Hohenschönhausen memorial and the Mies van der Rohe House.

It will take you an hour and 20 minutes to cycle through everything, not including stops for sightseeing. The nearest public transport at the start and end of this tour is the tram on Landsberger Allee.

Tour map

Tour Highlights 

Right at the beginning you will reach the Hohenschönhausen Memorial. The former central remand prison of the State Security (Stasi) of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) exerts a morbid fascination. Thousands of political prisoners were imprisoned here and psychologically and physically tortured.

Don't miss the opportunity to stop at the Mies van der Rohe House on this route. It is the last home built by the famous Bauhaus architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe before his emigration to the USA and houses an exhibition.

The town of Malchow, which you reach after a short trip through the countryside, is also interesting. In the historic centre of the village you will discover the old village school, the wall remains of the former fieldstone church and the Malchow manor house. Afterwards, you can make a stop at the Naturhof Malchow. Here there is an adventure garden, a café and also regular workshops.

Next the tour continues across meadows and through villages. In Wartenberg, for example, you will see the old village church and the village green. The Falkenberger Dorfkate was built in 1820 as an estate worker's house. Today, Berlin's only adobe house is a small restaurant and museum. You can get information and refreshments here.

Insider Tips

  • Storks in sight: Look out for storks on this route. The black and white feathered friends with the red beak feel particularly at home here thanks to meadows and nature reserves.
  • Police officer Wilhelm Behr: In Malchow, a memorial plaque commemorates a particularly courageous police officer who warned local residents of impending house searches by the National Socialists.