• Skip to content
  • Home
  • Destinations
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Africa
  • Germany
    • Baden-Württemberg
    • Bavaria
    • Brandenburg
    • Berlin
    • Bremen
    • Hamburg
    • Hesse
    • Lower Saxony
    • Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
    • Saxony
    • Saxony-Anhalt
    • Schleswig-Holstein
    • Thuringia
  • Home
  • Topic
    • Breweries, beer, beer tours
    • Wine, wine tasting, wine hikes
    • Hiking in Germany
    • UNESCO Sites in Germany
    • Christmas markets
    • City passes
    • This and that
  • Deutsch
  • English (UK)
Destinations > Germany > Berlin

Green Wedding – the Volkspark Rehberge

Berlin is greener than you might think. This is due to the countless parks and green spaces that can be found throughout the city. We took a closer look at the Volkspark Rehberge in Wedding.

About Volkspark Rehberge

The Volkspark Rehberge is located in a former partly wooded dune landscape in Berlin’s glacial valley. For a long time, the sand lying here was brought to Berlin’s city centre by cart and sold there as “Wittensand” for cleaning the floors.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the zoo director Hagenbeck from Hamburg is said to have planned an exhibition park on the grounds. In addition to animals, he also wanted to put people from German colonies on display. The beginning of the First World War in 1914 prevented the realisation.

Bewaldung im Park

During the war, the Berliners needed firewood and so they cut down the trees in the Rehberge. The lack of vegetation led to increased soil erosion. Dunes piled up and drifting sand affected the lives of the population. Finally, the authorities intervened and had the Reichswehr protect the remaining trees.

In 1922, the magistrate decided to establish a people’s park in the Rehberge. This was to be planned along the lines of a landscape park, take into account the existing landscape forms and be usable for the people. It was planned to build playgrounds and sports facilities and to create a park for the working classes.
The work began in 1926 and lasted a little over 2 years. Some small hills were removed to create flat areas for sports facilities. The park was designed by about 1200 unemployed people as part of a large-scale job creation project.
At the same time as the park, the first permanent allotment garden in Berlin was created – and it still exists today!

Catcherwiese im Volkspark Rehberge

In June 1929, the park officially opened with a folk festival, dance and sporting events.

When the National Socialists came to power, the Volkspark also changed. A speaker’s stage was built on the Great Training Meadow, monuments disappeared and were replaced by others, and an open-air stage, which still exists today, was built.
The Volkspark Rehberge survived the Second World War relatively unscathed, apart from logging for firewood. Afterwards, the sports facilities were expanded and modernised.

Volkspark Rehberge today

One thing is immediately noticeable when walking in the Volkspark: it is really hilly by Berlin standards. The existing dunes are connected to form a uniform range of hills and can be walked on an “elevated hiking trail”. There is a total of 24 kilometres of developed path in the park, so it is ideal for the numerous joggers and cyclists we saw during our walk.

Brücke im Volkspark

The main access to a large meadow, located in the centre of the park, passes under a footbridge past two former changing houses from 1929. At the edge of the meadow is a wrestling statue. The meadow owes its colloquial name “Catcherwiese” to this statue. It is actually called Große Übungswiese or Große Spielwiese. There is always something going on on this meadow and Berliners like to use it.

Ringerdenkmal im Volkspark Rehberge

Adjacent to the meadow are also sports facilities in the Volkspark Rehberge. In addition to a few tennis courts, the Rehberge stadium, which is home to a Berlin football club, is also located here.

Sportplatz Rehberge

At the highest point of the park is the Rathenau Monument. We walked there along a beautiful avenue. A staircase with panels with profiles of Emil and Walter Rathenau leads to a square with the monument. The Rathenau Fountain was originally erected here in 1930. It was popularly known as the Tax Screw, in reference to the rising taxes. After four years, the bronze fountain was dismantled and the two bronze plates of the Rathenaus removed. Later, the bronze was melted down and used to repair a damaged Schiller monument. Thanks to the efforts of a few people, the monument was finally recast and returned to its original place.

Rathenau Denkmal/Brunnen

Today it is covered in graffiti in the park. I have never seen water flowing there and it is not really beautiful.

A toboggan run goes down the mountain from the monument. We walked down the 20-metre difference in altitude of the toboggan run, which is about 300 metres long. I can imagine that the kids definitely have a lot of fun here in winter.

From the end of the toboggan run, the path led us on to the three lakes in the Volkspark Rehberge. The Möwensee, Sperlingssee and Entenpfuhl are in the north-east of the park. They are quite overgrown between the trees and are not suitable for swimming. The lakes look very muddy and did not carry much water. They are actually a paradise for water birds and frogs. There are fish only in the Möwensee. In summer, fish may die due to lack of oxygen in the lake.

See im Volkspark Rehberge
Berlin Volkspark rehberge

When we accidentally turned in the “wrong” direction at a crossroads, we discovered the remains of the dance ring. The ring was built in 1929 and was originally intended for the practice of “gymnastic exercises and folk dances”. It is somewhat recessed and had a grandstand. This was rebuilt after the war in 1951 with 410 seats. Unfortunately, nothing can be seen of it today. But the square seems to be a little secret in the park. It was empty and quiet here. There were shady seats on the lawn – the ideal place to relax.

Tanzring

The path led us further to the open-air stage in the Rehberge. Directly opposite, in a dressing room built in 1936/37, there is now a restaurant. After the Second World War, the open-air theatre was used for plays and operettas. Then it stood unused in the forest for a long time and was only bought by a private operator in 2008. After the renovation work was completed, visitors could enjoy performances. We were here once for an open-air cinema performance of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show”. The experience was simply unique. The atmosphere was excellent and I still found leftover rice and flour in my handbag weeks later.

Eingang zur Freilichtbühne Rehberge

Our stay in the Volkspark ended with a visit to the game enclosures. A wild boar, mouflon, pheasant and a fallow deer once lived here. After the boar died, they wanted to renaturalise the enclosures. Fortunately, they decided against it and so today you can observe animals in the enclosures.
For me, the Volkspark Rehberge is a green oasis, a place of rest and relaxation in the middle of Berlin.

Tiergehege in den Rehberge

Address:

Windhuker Str. 52A
13351 Berlin

  • share  
  • tweet 
  • save  1 
  • share 

Related Posts:

  • Krematorium Wedding
    Crematorium Wedding - an unusual guided tour
    I admit it, a tour of a crematorium sounds strange…
  • Berlin Volkspark Jungfernheide
    Berlin the green city - Volkspark Jungfernheide in…
    For me, one of the perfect places to relax in…
  • Georg Kolbe
    Georg Kolbe Museum
    For many years I drove past a sign on Heerstrasse…

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Impress
  • Privacy Policy
  • Photo credit
  • About us

Berlin
  • Arkaden im Park
    Ruhwaldpark Berlin- unknown and beautiful
  • Oberbaumbrücke Berlin
    One of Berlin’s most beautiful bridges – the Oberbaumbrücke
  • Regenspazergang Freizeitpark Lübars
    Rain walk through the Lübars leisure park
  • verrostete Gitter Grabstätte
    Small cemetery in Berlin’s Westend – Luisenfriedhof II
  • rekonstruierte Gerichtslaube in dem Berliner Nikolaiviertel
    A walk through Berlin’s Nikolai Quarter
  • Parkbewohner im Schutz einer Brücke
    Stroll through Buch Castle Park
  • Jaczoturm
    The story of the Jaczoturm in Spandau and the Schildhorn in Grunewald
  • Gräber direkt am Sausuhlensee
    Heerstraße Cemetery – the final resting place of many celebrities
  • Sowjetische Ehrenmal Buch
    Soviet memorial Buch
  • Pin in Mitte von Berlin
    Where is the center of Berlin?
  • Borsigturm
    The first high-rise building in Berlin
  • Große Kuppelhalle Bode Museum
    Bode Museum on Museum Island
  • Wanderung im Tegler Fließtal
    Water buffalo and deadwood trees in the Tegeler Fließtal
  • Garten des Exils
    Jewish Museum Berlin
  • blaue Baumstämme im Grunewald
    Hike through the Grunewald forest in Berlin
  • Schloss Bellevue
    I wonder if the Federal President is in Bellevue Palace?
  • Wanderung auf dem Havelhöhenweg
    Hike on the Havel Heights Trail
  • Grab Valentin
    Cemeteries at Fürstenbrunner Weg
  • Berlin Gedenkstätte Gleis 17
    Grunewald station and the platform 17
  • Jungfernbrücke
    Little Berlin discovery: Berlin’s oldest preserved bridge
  • Einzeldarstellung der Löwen vom Tor
    Pergamon Museum – a museum visit
  • Berlin Distillery
    Gin from Berlin – about gin tasting and gin distilling courses
  • Pause bei der Wanderung in Schmöckwitz
    Hiking in Berlin-Schmöckwitz
  • Nordfries
    Pergamonmuseum. The Panorama
  • Berliner Bürgerbräu
    Berliner Bürgerbräu – Lost Place or ???
  • Berliner Reichstag
    The Berlin Reichstag – viewpoint with history
  • Marx-Engels-Forum
    Relic from GDR times: Marx Engels Forum
  • "Berge in Berlin"
    Viewpoint Drachenberg
  • Treppe in den Spreetunnel
    Deep under the Spree – in the pedestrian tunnel Friedrichshagen
  • Jagdgruppe Berliner Tiergarten
    Stroll through the Great Tiergarten
  • Gropiusbau
    Hansaviertel (Hansa Quarter) – architectural diversity
  • Mengenlehreuhr in Berlin
    What time is it? – the set theory clock
  • East Side Gallery
    East Side Gallery
  • Breitscheidplatz, Spaziergang über den Kurfürstendamm
    Walk along the Kurfürstendamm and the Tauentzien
  • ltes Museum Berlin
    Altes Museum Berlin (Old Museum)
  • Schwerbelastungskörper
    Heavy burden body and SA-Memorial Site SA Prison Papestraße – on the way on the history parcours
  • Gaslaternen-Freilichtmuseum
    Gaslamp Open Air Museum Berlin
  • Parochialkirche Kirchhof
    The singing clock of the Parochial Church
  • Lietzensee in Berlin Charlottenburg
    Walk in Lietzenseepark
  • Wanderung zur Friedhofsbahn
    Hike to the almost forgotten cemetery railroad
  • Berlin Klosterstraße in Mitte, Ruine
    There is a ruin in the middle of Berlin
  • Fernsehturm in Berlin
    The Berlin TV Tower does not stand on Alexanderplatz
  • Schillerdenkmal
    Schillerpark in Wedding
  • Berliner Funkturm
    What you can discover between ICC and Theodor-Heuss-Platz
  • Georg Kolbe
    Georg Kolbe Museum
  • Bierpinsel in Berlin
    Why is the Bierpinsel actually called Bierpinsel?
  • Bahnhof Berlin Alexanderplatz
    Berlin Alexanderplatz
  • Friedhöfe vor dem Halleschen Tor
    Cemeteries in front of the Halleschen Tor
  • HiFlyer Berlin
    In tethered balloon high above Berlin
  • Kunst auf der Hauswand
    Artpark Tegel – Open Air Gallery with Murals
  • Berliner Kongresshalle
    The Pregnant Oyster and the Carillon in the Tiergarten
  • Eingang Ehrenmal Schönholzer Heide
    Soviet Memorial in Schönholzer Heide
  • Rückseite des Tors
    Brandenburg Gate – the sight in Berlin
  • Gare Française de Tegel
    Gare Française de Tegel – Tegel French Military Station
  • Berlin Botanischer Garten
    A botanical journey around the world through the Botanic Garden Berlin
  • Radtour Tegler See
    Cycling tour around Lake Tegel
  • Erinnerungsstätte Notaufnahmelager Marienfelde
    Marienfelde transit camp – the end and the beginning of a journey
  • Häuser im Museumsdorf Düppel
    Düppel Museum Village – Visit to the Middle Ages
  • Denkmal Berliner Mauer
    MEMORIAL STATION BERLINER MAUER on Bernauer Strasse
  • Ganf durch das Stelenfeld
    Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe or Holocaust Memorial in Berlin
  • DDR Museum
    DDR Museum or Welcome to the “East” of Berlin
  • Interbau 57 in Berlin
    Guided tour by art:berlin “International Architecture 1957 – The Hansaviertel”
  • russisch orthodoxe Kirche in Berlin
    Guided tour through Charlottengrad
  • Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen
    Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum for Film and Television
  • Kollhof Tower in Berlin
    High above Berlin on the Panorama Point at Potsdamer Platz
  • Dampferanlegestelle Greenwichpromenade
    Greenwich Promenade – Walk to the Sechserbrücke
  • Blick auf das Konzerthaus am Gendarmenmarkt
    Gendarmenmarkt Berlin – one of the most beautiful squares in the city
  • Escape Room Berlin
    Experience Sherlock’s dream in the Escape Room in Berlin
  • Naturkundemuseum
    The dinos are coming – from the Natural History Museum
  • Eingang der Zitadelle Spandau
    The Spandau Citadel – a visit to a historic fortress complex
  • Blick zum Schloss Charlottenburg
    Visit to the summer residence of the Hohenzollerns in Berlin – Charlottenburg Palace
  • Gedenkstätte Plötzensee
    The Path of Memory – On the Road in the Charlottenburg-North Memorial Region
  • Seifenblasen
    Magical moments in the illusion theatre
  • Großsiedlung Siemensstadt - UNESCO Welterbesiedlung
    Do you know the „Langen Jammer“ and the „Panzerkreuzer“?
  • Autobahnüberbauung Schlangenbader Strasse
    Freeway superstructure Schlangenbader Straße – unusual living in Berlin
  • Berlin NS zwangsarbeiterlager
    Documentation Centre Nazi Forced Labour
  • Krematorium Wedding
    Crematorium Wedding – an unusual guided tour
  • Tasting Bar im Berlin Disgusting Food Museum
    Disgusting Food Museum Berlin
  • Wanderung von Lübars - Sonnenuntergang
    Hike from Lübars to Schönfließ and back – 15.9 km
  • Begrüßung durch einen Roboter im Futurium
    Futurium – a look into the future, insight into the future
  • Militär Historisches Museum - Dakota
    Spandau Tip: Military History Museum
  • Berliner Hahneberg
    The Hahneberg a vantage point in Spandau
  • Forgotten – but still present- the S-Bahn across Siemensstadt
  • Grabsteine Alte Jüdische Friedhof
    Old Jewish Cemetery
  • Malthouse of the Schultheiss Brewery in Schöneberg
    Malthouse of the Schultheiss Brewery in Schöneberg
  • Allied Museum – a journey through Berlin history
  • Ernst-Thälmann-Park
    Ernst Thälmann Park in Prenzlauer Berg
  • Berlin Volkspark Jungfernheide
    Berlin the green city – Volkspark Jungfernheide in Siemensstadt
  • Eisacktunnel
    Discoveries in Berlin’s underground: Eisack Tunnel and Innsbrucker Platz
  • Tempelhofer Flughafen
    Tempelhof Airport – Part 2 of the sightseeing tour
  • Spree
    As a Berliner, always along the Spree…
  • Rosinenbomer
    Sightseeing tour of Tempelhof Airport – Part 1
  • Spy Museum Berlin
    Spy Museum Berlin
  • Dampfer fahren in Berlin
    With the paddle steamer across the Havel
  • Geschichtspark Zellengefängnis Moabit
    Moabit Cellular Prison History Park
  • Volkspark Friedrichshain
    Sunday walk in Volkspark Friedrichshain
  • German Museum of Technology in Berlin
    Bright eyes in the German Museum of Technology
  • radar and listening station Teufelsberg
    Former US radar and listening station Teufelsberg
  • Discover Berlin from a different perspective with a city tour on a special theme. The Soviet Berlin today and then.
    “Soviet Berlin – Through the Red Metropolis” a city tour with Berlin Taiga
  • Live Escape Room
    Big Päng – in the Live Escape Room in Berlin
  • Virtuelle live Stadtführung durch die Friedrich-Wilhelm-Stadt in Berlin Mitte
    Virtual live city tour: Friedrich-Wilhelm-Stadt
  • TXL - Flughafen Tegel
    Bye Bye TXL – Bye Bye Tegel Airport
  • Friedhof Plötzensee
    Plötzensee Cemetery
  • Vood Mobil
    Vegan street food from the Vood Mobil
  • BrewDog DogTap Berlin
    BrewDog DogTap Berlin – Beer without borders
  • Escape Room - Knast 13
    Escape from prison in 55 minutes 13 – Escape Room
  • Blick in Saunafloss
    Pure relaxation – travelling on the Havel in a sauna raft
  • Getting to know Berlin - Neukölln / Rixdorf
    Getting to know Berlin – Neukölln / Rixdorf
  • Bus 100 - quer durch die Berliner City
    City tour with bus line 100
  • Museum der Illusionen
    Museum of Illusions – or do you believe everything you see?
  • Streetfood markt
    Streetfood at the KulturBrauerei
  • Eiskeller Schild
    The coldest place in Berlin
  • Weihnachtsmarkt Schloss Charlottenburg
    Christmas market in front of Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin
  • Weihnachtsmarkt im Johannisstift
    With the steam locomotive to the Christmas market at Johannisstift
  • Christmas market at the Gedächniskirche
    Christmas Market at the Gedächniskirche (Memorial Church)
  • Weihnachtsmarkt am Roten Rathaus
    Berlin Mitte: Christmas market at the Rotes Rathaus
  • Weihnachtsmarkt in der Kulturbrauerei, Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg" _ Jochen Loch
    Lucia Christmas Market in Berlin’s Kulturbrauerei
  • On the road with the Glühwein Express of the Berlin Railway Friends
  • Sowjetische Ehrenmal im Tiergarten
    Soviet memorial in Tiergarten
  • Sowjetische Ehrenmal im Treptower Park
    Soviet Memorial in Treptow Park
  • Hauptstadtflughafen Berlin Brandenburg
    #BERtesten – testing the new Berlin-Brandenburg Airport
  • Boat tour from Spandau to Potsdam on the MS Heiterkeit (MS Joy)
    Boat tour from Spandau to Potsdam on the MS Heiterkeit (MS Joy)
  • Spandau Lock
    Spandau Lock
  • Glienicke Bridge – a place full of history
    Glienicke Bridge – a place full of history
  • Tegel Airport: The view from the visitor’s deck
    Tegel Airport: The view from the visitor’s deck
  • The Aquarium Berlin
    The Aquarium Berlin
  • Stand up paddle boarding on the Schlachtensee Lake in Berlin
    Stand up paddle boarding on the Schlachtensee Lake in Berlin
  • Escape Berlin
    Spinning heads and question marks in our eyes in the Escape Room Berlin
  • Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin – THE ONE Grand Show
    Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin – THE ONE Grand Show
  • Almost an insider tip: Stone Brewing-Berlin
    Almost an insider tip: Stone Brewing-Berlin
  • victory column
    Victory column on the Große Stern in Berlin – Siegessäule
  • Olympic Stadium Berlin
    Olympic Stadium Berlin – a visit
  • Pfaueninsel – Recreation in the big city of Berlin
  • Almost forgotten – the Spreepark Berlin
Menu: Berlin