Berliner Unterwelten is an association combining history and urbex, offering various themed guided tours. Although the tours are uneven, underground exploration promises many discoveries and offers fantastic visuals.
A Visit to Berliner Unterwelten Is a Highlight!
German reunification reagglomerated Berlin's urban fabric. The former border zone was gradually dismantled and filled in with new buildings. Other hitherto walled-in buildings were brought out of oblivion. A veritable revolution took place in former East Berlin from 1990 onwards. It was accompanied by some surprising discoveries: the existence of a vast underground heritage.
When digging foundations for new buildings, sealed slabs leading to air-raid shelters were found. The best-known of these is the bunker belonging to the Goebbels family, Minister of Information and Propaganda under the Third Reich, which was rediscovered during the construction of the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. But there are also more imposing architectural remains, such as former factories, air defense towers, fallout shelters and even escape tunnels. Not all the sites are concerned with the Second World War and the Cold War: some date back to the early 20th century and are dedicated to the city's industrial history.
Faced with the imperatives of rapid reconstruction, archaeologists and historians are organizing to protect this long-hidden heritage, now threatened with destruction. In 1997, the association Berliner Unterwelten was founded. Its work is devoted to scientific research, the upkeep of historic sites and the promotion and popularization of the latter among the general public, notably through a wide range of guided tours. The association is a great success, welcoming several hundred thousand visitors every year.
Exciting and Original Exploration
The association Berliner Unterwelten offers a wide range of guided tours to sites that are visually, historically and geographically different. Most tours are public, meaning that individuals and small groups can register individually. Depending on the tour, up to eight time slots are available, in several languages. Other themes are available exclusively to groups on request. This applies mainly to less secure sites. In general, we recommend that you wear sufficiently warm clothing and good shoes, and that you are not claustrophobic.
The star tours are Tour 1: Dark Worlds and Tour M: Breaking through the Wall. The former takes place in the underground passages of the Gesundbrunnen railway station, an incredible air-raid shelter used during the Second World War. We regret that some of the reconstructions are a little heavy-handed and unwelcome. Nevertheless, the site and its convoluted storeys are quite astonishing. The second tour takes visitors on a trail of the passageways to the West at the time of the Berlin Wall. This itinerant tour passes through a former escape tunnel, providing a deeper understanding of the German division and the separation of families. The feeling of reliving history at close quarters is exhilarating.
Lesser-known tours also offer fantastic experiences: visit the Flak Towers in Humboldthain, the subway tunnels or the fortified underground installations. Tour guides venture into long-forgotten, yet still dormant, worlds. The experience is made all the more immersive by the fact that these sites are absolutely off the beaten tourist track. Unfortunately, these original tours are only available in German. They are less frequent than other tours, so places are limited. This maintains a level of excellence that can sometimes be lacking on regular tours.
Discovering History in a Different Way
The model at Berliner Unterwelten is one of compulsory educational accompaniment. Entry to the sites is strictly regulated, and only those on a tour are allowed in. In addition, the association retains the monopoly, and its tour guides are all accredited. During the tour, two members of the association accompany the group: one gives the presentation; the other regulates the time spent in each room. In fact, the numerous tours organized on the same site sometimes lead to overcrowding. So, if you're under the influence of a lot of people, the result can be lengthy or rushed.
Guided tours are extremely prescriptive, giving the impression that visitors don't have the time or ability to explore the site on their own. Yet this model works. It testifies to the seriousness of the association, as much in disseminating a formative educational discourse as in ensuring the comfort and, above all, the safety of individuals. Indeed, the sites are sometimes difficult to access, somewhat labyrinthine and quite dark. Underground temperatures are cooler than on the surface. This can create an unpleasant feeling of being lost. The current organization of the towers is certainly the best solution as it stands: protecting heritage and promoting it as democratically as possible.
The fact remains that the experience offered by Berliner Unterwelten is unique. It's a blend of adventure and history, with a hint of the excitement of the forbidden. The visuals are often impressive, and despite some rather unfortunate room reconstructions, immersion is total. Whether you're passionate about history, urban exploration or original visits, alone or accompanied, on a tourist or educational trip, everyone will find a theme and a place to suit them.
Reasons to Visit
Impressive historic sites
A broad, diversified and multilingual offering
A model of civic commitment to heritage preservation
Reasons to Skip
Sometimes regrettable staging
Rushed, chained groups
Variable quality depending on the guide
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