Friedenau: country house colony Literati, artists, revolutionaries
West Berlin, Berlin
Countless authors, visual artists and politicians of all stripes chose idyllic Friedenau as their place of residence and work in the 20th century. How and where did they live?
Overview
This guided walking tour explores the Landhauskolonie Friedenau in Berlin, ideal for history and literature enthusiasts.
Highlights
- A local guide leads you through the Landhauskolonie Friedenau
- Discover the lives of authors, Expressionists, and political figures in this historic suburb
- Explore lesser-known sites within Friedenau
Description
Friedenau was founded in 1874 as a bourgeois suburb of small country villas featuring remarkable Art Nouveau facades and front gardens. Over the past century, successful authors, painters, sculptors, and politicians have lived here.
Expressionist artists such as Kirchner, Schmidt-Rottluff, Otto Müller, Ludwig Meidner, and Hans Baluschek worked in creatively furnished attic studios. The Görresstraße area once hosted a sculptor's yard known as Klein-Carrara. In the Ceciliengärten housing estate, sculptures by Kolbe depicting the evening and morning face each other.
During the National Socialist era, writers Kurt Tucholsky and Erich Kästner lived here. In the late 1960s and 70s, a vibrant community of German-speaking authors including Günter Grass, Uwe Johnson, Hans-Magnus Enzensberger, and Max Frisch gathered in local pubs and clubs to debate and influence society. Grass and Herta Müller, both Friedenau residents, received the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Friedenau's history is politically complex: the RAF executed its first bank robbery here, Rosa Luxemburg cooked with the Kautsky family, Hermann Göring grew up in a ménage à trois, and Goebbels and Theodor Heuss lived on Fregestraße. The Red Chapel resistance group formed in the 'Einküchenhaus' on Wilhelmshöher Straße. The tour also covers the 'Friedenauer Rad' and the origin of the first boy band, the Comedian Harmonists.
The final stop is the Friedenau Cemetery, where Marlene Dietrich, Helmut Newton, and Jeanne Mammen are buried.
Includes
- Guided tour of the Landhauskolonie Friedenau
- Local guide
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund.
Booking Tips
Wear comfortable shoes for walking and bring weather-appropriate clothing. Morning tours provide the best lighting for photography. Book in advance to secure your spot.
