An out of the ordinary trip to Berlin between art and history, a way to reflect on the past in a place bathed in a new light.
Berlin is a city full of history, art and folklore. A few steps from the center we find the "Teufelsberg“, A hill made by man, capable of giving rise to a profound reflection on the combination of war and peace.
Teufelsberg is an artificial mountain on top of which, in the past, an American monitoring station was built. The name derives from a neighboring lake, the Teufelssee, which later became known as Teufelsberg.
Charm between art and history
La Second Word War devastated the territory of Berlin with unprecedented amounts.
Bombing and debris invaded the city, making it necessary to restore the full functionality of the city at the end of the Second World War.
In 1950, Berliners stored about 12 million cubic meters of rubble on the mountain, reaching more than 75 million when the job was completed. In 1972 the works were completed and the Teufelsberg reached a height of 120 meters. So they decided to cover the hill with earth and to plant trees and shrubs, creating a real forest. The purpose was to hide the monitoring tower over all of American Europe.
After the blockade of Berlin, due to the Cold War, it became increasingly important for the Allies to gather information on the Soviets. The Teufelsberg guaranteed a great advantage thanks to the hidden and strategic position made artificially thanks to the use of rubble and debris.
We can still say today that the work that was carried out on the Teufelsberg remained strictly secret, but certainly related to the reception and listening of hidden messages, known only to the military and translators. Historically, the place was given the name of being one monitoring station which was part of the infamous Echelon espionage program for Americans. The large spheres on the Teufelsberg are in fact called "radar spheres". These large balloon-shaped constructions of white canvas and rubber had the function of protecting the receiving equipment from wind and bad weather and at the same time hiding the equipment against the curious eyes of the enemy. By means of a large air compressor, the white spheres were held tight, so that the canvas could not fly through the wind and thus disturb the signal.
Street Art in Teufelsberg
As is often the case in abandoned historic sites, the Teufelsberg is home to the largest art gallery in all of Europe. Artists, with the permission of the site administrators, can create street art in some specific points of the abandoned buildings, creating a real museum where history meets contemporary art and street art. The colors flood the gray and white of the monitoring towers giving new light.
Visit to the Teufelsberg
We can consider the Teufelsberg a special attraction worth visiting. Being located outside the city it is reachable by car or by bus. The walk in the middle of the park to the top of the mountain gives you the right moment to ask yourself about the meaning of this trip. The historical tour inside the Teufelsberg it is recommended for those who want to immerse themselves in history and lasts about 1 hour and a half.
It is always possible stroll and explore the area on your own, enjoying a breathtaking landscape and meeting some artists concentrated in the realization of their works.
Why visit the Teufelsberg
The place is really important to allow us to reflect on the consequences and negative aspects of a war. The abandoned land screams peace in all its corners. Thanks to the street art and the lively color of the works we can say that the Teufelsberg has acquired a new light, synonymous with a new war-reluctant soul.
