Berlin Wall Trail

A contribution that is somewhat out of line. However, it can also be taken as a suggestion for the exciting design of the basic training.

The project

Since I am professionally in Berlin since October 2018, I also do sports there. That with mass by bike.

New routes are constantly being added to the now established standard routes. These are sometimes more, sometimes less ambitious. But exploring them is more fun for me than riding the familiar routes. I usually use one of the many lakes in the southeast of Berlin or in the surrounding area as a destination.

At some point, through internet research and personal acquaintance with various sections of the route, the idea came up to complete the Berlin Wall Trail by bike as a full-day tour.

No sooner said than done. On 22.06.2019 it was then so far and I ventured on the track.

Track

I got the basic information about the track here https://www.berlin.de/mauer/mauerweg/ fetched. On this page there is the necessary information and the route as a gps - track. This I downloaded and transferred to my navigation device (Polar V650). In addition, I have studied the route before in the available online maps and compared with the route sections already known to me.

The result of these preparatory measures was the decision to start very early in the morning and to complete the part of the route through the city center first. Thus I completed the circuit counterclockwise. Thus I had the former West Berlin in driving direction always on the left of me and the former GDR as well as the former East Berlin always on the right of me.

As an entry point I have chosen the Ernst-Ruska-Ufer at the Teltow Channel. The Wall Trail first runs in the direction of NORTH-NORTHEAST. The Wall Trail then follows the former course of the border through the city. Here, in addition to the clear signs, you can also follow the markings of the original course of the Wall made of a double strip of cobblestones in the ground. In the area of the city, well-known historical points are then passed as if on an assembly line. This led to the fact that I often stopped to capture this photographically for later.

The wall path turns WEST after leaving the city area. In the process, the characteristics of the environment changes completely. I was the mass of this section of the path alone in the countryside. In this area it looks like the Wall Trail mostly follows the former Kolonnenweg, which was used by the border troops of the former GDR to monitor the border installations.

After several kilometers you then turn SOUTH, whereby the character of the route and the landscape does not change significantly at first. The one or other settlement is touched or crossed.

If the route then finally turns back to the EAST, it goes back to the more densely populated areas. Thereby the Wannsee is crossed by ferry and now the southern WESTBERLIN is circumnavigated.

I was quite happy when I arrived back at the entry point and only had to drive back to the accommodation.

The route conditions include mirror-smooth roads, gravel roads, cobblestone passages to single trail-like sections. In places there are already significant challenges, such as cross gullies and hills, as well as road and trail breakups. Sometimes I wished I had a road bike, sometimes more like a mountain bike. In the end, I was with my cross bike but quite well on the road.

I drove a total of 166km. This includes the way to and from the entry point. If I subtract that, the Wall Trail alone comes to about 160km. The wall path is excellently signposted, so that one can get along well even without electronic helpers. I still saved time, so I certainly had more of the way.

Things to see and know

What is there to discover on the Berlin Wall Trail?

Besides the sporting aspect of completing the route, you can collect many impressions.

First I passed in the city area so familiar points such as the Sonnenallee, Check Point Charly, Potsdamer Platz and the Brandenburg Gate. Since I was on the road very early in the morning on a Saturday, I had the city felt for me alone. Furthermore, the preserved and excellently prepared sections of the Wall, for example in Bernauer Allee, are impressive. Here, at the latest, you realize where you can be on the road today, where once the two power blocs faced each other.

I also discovered things I didn't know about before. I was particularly impressed by the Invalidensiedlung, which one moved into in November 1748 and was one of the first institutions for the care of war victims in the German-speaking world.

I was also impressed by the preservation of the memory of the former border. Original components of the border installations, such as parts of the wall, border towers or the Kolonnenweg are preserved. But also other important points, like the border crossings, are pointed out by excellent documentation. This historical documentation is mostly found on different colored steles, which were placed at the corresponding places. These are supplemented by other information boards and documentation signs.

The commemoration of all victims of the border installations in the course of the Berlin Wall Trail is particularly touching.

All in all, the excellent documentation gives you an impressive glimpse into history. I got goosebumps at one point or another while reading.

Finish

In summary, I would like to recommend the Berlin Wall Trail without reservation, as something you should have done once in your life. It does not necessarily have to be completed as a day tour.

I recommend riding a mountain bike, a cross bike or a touring bike. The Wall Trail is definitely not suitable for a road bike.

Breaks can be taken anywhere. There are also enough places where you can grasp food. Therefore, I had only a little with me.

The ferry across the Wannsee offers itself as a longer planned break. You can buy a ticket for yourself and your bike via the BVG (Berlin public transportation company/service) app or on board. The ferry belongs to the route network of the BVG. On board, you can also use the toilet if necessary.

The picture gallery should give a small insight into my tour. The pictures are not sorted and can be viewed enlarged by clicking.

I hope you have fun following along!