Flakturm Humboldthain — Attraction in Berlin

I love this place. It's nice that something historical is still here and not totally hidden underneath a rubble mountain (like at Friedrichshain Volkspark with the 2 bunkerbergs there). You can still see that this was a flak tower.

It would be interesting to have some description boards explaining what the place is. At the moment there are only a few pointer signs showing you how to get there. After that there is no information at all. Many people's houses lie below the rubble mountain and the flak tower is the last remaining in Berlin. We are so far removed now from the second world war and the third Reich that it wouldn't be wrong for more information to be publicly available on site. You can visit without a tour guide and it's in a public park after all. On the main notice board it's even called Humbolthain Terrace (which is absurd).

There are great views over Berlin from the flak turm. Berlin is so flat and there aren't many places where you can go for free to look over the city so I really like the flak turm just for somewhere to go and admire the city.

There are even picnic tables at the top to have a spot of lunch at on a Sunday...

This was one of the 3 main towers guarding Berlin from allied bombers.The Flakturm (Flag Tower) is a 12 storey high concrete bunker that is placed in the city. The bunker was provided with a space where people ( the largest tower had room for 20,000) could shelter during bombing and there was space for storage of goods. Sometimes art treasures were stored in the underground levels for safe keeping. They proved impossible to destroy by bombing or artillery fire. The tower was equipped with many Flak anti-aircraft guns which could be angled downwards to fire into the surrounding city areas in case of invasion. It was largely destroyed after the war by demolition teams.

It is now in a park with gardens and its remains are overgrown and wooded. Considering it's history it is now a pleasant place to stroll and enjoy the gardens and events which are sometimes...

The tour into the towers is still on my to-do list, though managed to explore the surroundig area. Easy way up by the stairs with the nice park downhill at the meeting point. The area on the top looks a bit abondoned, but mainly because of the graffiti. Met one group that was going into the tower tour, one that finished the tour, on the top there were many people just sitting and chatting on the benches - so not too crowded, but not spooky or emty place - felt quite safe to explore. Quite nice view from the top, though a bit forshadowed by the fences all around. Nice for a stroll and checking out, but really strongly sugfest to go for the...