Viktoriapark

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  The National Monument to the Liberation Wars in Viktoriapark in Kreuzberg

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  Visitors to Victoria Park sit on a lawn one afternoon in late March.

The Viktoriapark with the Kreuzberg hill is Berlin's highest inner-city elevation and has a real waterfall to offer. At the top of the mountain stands Schinkel's National Monument, commemorating the victory over Napoleon.

The waterfall is the highlight of Viktoriapark in Berlin-Kreuzberg. During the summer months, it provides a refreshing respite and serves as a backdrop for picnics and first dates. But Viktoriapark isn’t just popular and worth visiting because of its waterfall. Located in southern Berlin, the park has more to offer than just relaxation in a green setting. It is a place of remembrance and a gathering spot.

History of the Viktoriapark

Viktoriapark was established beginning in 1888. It was named in honor of Queen Victoria of the British royal family. However, you won’t find any traces of the English garden tradition here. With its waterfall, Wolf’s Gorge, and rocky hills, Viktoriapark has a wild, romantic atmosphere.

The National Monument in Victoriapark

Alongside the waterfall, the Kreuzberg with the National Monument at its summit is the park’s most striking feature. The cast-iron monument was designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel and is the very reason the park was created. As early as 70 years before its construction, it stood on Tempelhofer Berg, as the Kreuzberg was once known, commemorating the victory of the Alliance over Napoleon in the Wars of Liberation. The monument features twelve figures symbolizing the decisive stages and battles of the Wars of Liberation. Schinkel chose the Iron Cross as the monument’s design. This medal was awarded during the war against Napoleon regardless of social status and was therefore regarded as a symbol of bourgeois emancipation. With the dedication of the monument, Tempelhofer Berg was renamed Kreuzberg.

From monument to park landscape

Over the years, high-rise buildings sprang up around the Kreuzberg, obscuring the monument from view in many directions. For this reason, it was later placed on an eight-meter-high pedestal. For a long time, the area surrounding the monument was unattractive. It wasn't until 1893 that the 24-meter-high waterfall and mountain landscape for which the park is known today were created. At the foot of the waterfall stands the bronze sculpture "The Rare Catch" by Ernst Herter. Another sculpture in the park is dedicated to the poet Heinrich von Kleist.

Wolf gorge, rose garden and vineyard

The wolf gorge (German: Wolfsschlucht) in Viktoriapark is just as meticulously detailed as the mountains and waterfall. Water flows from three springs into a pond. A dense stand of trees and plants makes you forget that you're in a big city. At the edge of Mehringdamm, a rose garden invites you to take a stroll. Wine has been grown on the northern slope of Kreuzberg since the 1970s. However, the wine made from the Kreuzberg grapes is not sold. It is donated by the district office or given as a special gift.

Expansion of Viktoriapark

Viktoriapark was expanded starting in 1913 and landscaped by Albert Brodersen by 1916. The new section added meadows to the park. A few years later, a sports facility was built. Right next to the sports field is a large beer garden. The Golgatha has been around since 1977 and is a Kreuzberg institution. Between the old and new sections of the park, a large cross commemorates the violent suppression of the popular uprising in the GDR on June 17, 1953.

A paradise for children

In addition to its spectacular waterfall, Viktoriapark has other attractions for children. In the western part of the park, there is a large playground with wooden climbing structures. The animal enclosure is also popular. Goats, rabbits and guinea pigs have called this place home since 1925.

Viktoriapark has been a designated historic landmark since 1980.

Please note: To ensure that this popular location remains a pleasant place to live and visit for residents and visitors alike, please be considerate of your neighbors, keep the neighborhood clean, and keep noise levels down, especially in the evening hours.

Information

• Address:
  Kreuzbergstraße 15
  10965 Berlin
  City map
• Operating Hours of the Waterfall: The waterfall runs from Maundy Thursday to the middle/end of October (depending on the weather) between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.