Nature Park Südgelände

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  Joggers run along a path in the Schöneberger Südgelände nature park in Berlin.

• Visitors to the Schöneberger Süddgelände nature park take advantage of the mild weather for a walk.

• Walkers walk through a tunnel in the Schöneberger Südgelände nature park in Berlin in the sunshine.

• A squirrel jumps over a footbridge in the nature park Schöneberger Südgelände in Berlin.

In the Nature Park Schöneberger Südgelände wild nature, modern art and forgotten technology are in symbiosis.

Between railway tracks, on the area of the former Tempelhof marshalling yard, lies a wild natural area with relics from the steam locomotive era - the Natur-Park Südgelände. After the station was finally closed down in 1952, nature gradually reclaimed the former tracks and station areas. Without human intervention, a primeval forest and valuable dry grasslands developed over time. In this environment, a great variety of species has been created for which there is no room elsewhere. For this reason, large parts of the site were declared a landscape and nature reserve in 1999.

Visible railway history

The history of the southern area remains visible through remnants from the steam engine era. Tracks, water cranes, light poles and switches were left in the park. Hidden among the trees is an old class 50 steam locomotive, one of the oldest turntables and a 50-meter-high steel water tower. An approximately 100-year-old locomotive hall impresses with its size of 4,000 square metres. The former bridge master's office houses a café with event room, the upper floor serves as exhibition space.

Nature inspires creativity

There are many works of art to discover throughout the park grounds. The steel artworks by the Odius sculpture group are integrated into the southern area as viewing points, tree houses, tubes and footbridges, providing views and insights. A 600-metre-long steel walkway leads through the nature reserve. Near the Brückenmeisterei is the Giardino Segreto, an artificial garden with steel cubes and sculptures, lawn beds bordered by steel edges and surprises that form a contrast to the wild nature of the nature park. A former retaining wall on Tälchenweg serves as a legal canvas for graffiti artists from 3 p.m. Monday to Saturday.

Open-air exhibition "Trailblazing Nature"

Since 2017, visitors to the extensive park have not only been able to trace the unusual history of the nature park in the open-air exhibition entitled "Trailblazing Nature", but also learn about the diversity of animal and plant species that have found their habitat here. Since 2020, the exhibition has been expanded to include twelve inclusive exhibition elements with tactile reliefs, making the information in the exhibition accessible to blind and visually impaired visitors. The tactile objects are accompanied by texts in black letter and Braille, as well as lots of information to listen to.

Information

• Address:
  Prellerweg 47-49
  12157 Berlin
  City map
• Internet: www.natur-park-suedgelaende.de
• Opening Hours: Daily from 9 a.m. until dusk
• Accessibility: Two handicapped accessible circular paths
• Admission Fee:
  €1 per person (from 14 years of age), automatic pay stations at the entrances
• Please note: Animals and bicycles are not allowed in the park.