The Top Literary Landmarks To Visit In Berlin

When most people think of Berlin, they think of a place that was ravaged in World War II and divided during the Cold War. Yet, this city has a long history of playing host not only to artists and musicians, but to many of the world’s greatest writers and thinkers. Indeed, Kafka, Nabakov, Walser, Brecht, and many others spent critical years of their careers in Germany’s capital. Beyond places like Berlin Wall, Alexanderplatz, and the Bahnhof Zoo, here are eight of Berlin’s most fascinating literary landmarks.

1. Isherwood Walking Tour

Isherwood Walking Tour

Christopher Isherwood is one of the best-known English-speaking writers to reside in Berlin in the final heyday of the Weimar Republic. His final novel, Goodbye to Berlin, as part of the larger work, The Berlin Stories, was a semi-autobiographical tale about the lives of a cabaret singer, a gay couple, and a Jewish heiress as Nazism descended over Germany. The famed novel inspired the outrageously popular musical Cabaret. The Isherwood Walking Tour is a one-hour exploration of the old stomping grounds of Isherwood, primarily located throughout the Nollendorfplatz area. One of the highlights of the tour is the apartment Isherwood shared with Jean Ross, the cabaret singer who inspired the famous character of Sally Bowles.

Nollendorfplatz, Berlin, Germany, +49 15125220342

© IsarSteve at English Wikipedia/WikiCommons

2. Bertolt Brecht Center and Museum

Museum, Art Gallery, School, Memorial

Founded by his wife, Helene Weigel, and housed in his legendary apartment on Chausseestraße in Mitte is the Bertolt Brecht Center and Museum. The space, which Brecht described as a ‘jolly roomy apartment,’ was his home from 1953 until his death in 1956. The adjoining rooms were where he gave instruction to his pupils. Now, the apartment contains the remains of Brecht’s personal library, consisting of 4,000 books. Today it is possible to take guided tours of the apartment, where several rooms have been maintained in their original conditions. The Bertolt Brecht Center and Museum is also adjacent to the Dorotheenstädtischen cemetery where the famous writer is buried.

3. Walter Benjamin House

Walter Benjamin House

The famed writer, philosopher, critic, and social commentator Walter Benjamin once resided in Berlin before fleeing from the Nazis and ultimately committing suicide to avoid being accosted by the Gestapo in 1940. Now, if one would like to pay homage to this renowned thinker, it is possible to visit his home on Prinzregentstraße in Wilmersdorf. It is demarcated by a plaque, which is inscribed with details about his life’s work. Additionally, the Walter Benjamin Archives in Mitte includes 12,000 manuscripts of his work and exists as part of the city’s Academy of the Arts.

Prinzregentenstraße 66, Berlin-Wilmersdorf, Germany

© Wikinaut/WikiCommons

Savoy Hotel

While much of the area was destroyed in the bombings that transpired during World War II, parts of Berlin, particularly around Ku’damm and Potsdamer Platz, were highly popular with artists, writers, and musicians. Even after the war, the western portion of the city regained some of this culture. For instance, Henry Miller, the American author, was known to spend a good deal of time at the Savoy Hotel, which still remains to this day. It is even possible to stay in a suite named after his famous novel, Tropic of Cancer. Thomas Mann was also known to hang around here.

Fasanenstraße 9, 10623 Berlin, Germany, +49 030 311030

5. Dorotheenstädtischen Friedhof

Cemetery

While it’s a morbid sentiment, one of the best ways to get up close and personal with the famed literary figures of Berlin’s past is to visit them at the cemetery. Dorotheenstädtischen Friedhof, in particular, is known to be the final resting place of many acclaimed writers. The graves of Bertolt Brecht, Christa Wolf, Heiner Müller, and Heinrich Mann can all be found here. Additionally, several notable philosophers including Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel are buried here as well. Plus, Brecht’s former home is located within sight of the cemetery.

6. Bebelplatz

Building, Historical Landmark

Bebelplatz is a literary landmark, not because of the important inspiration to novelists that it harbors, but rather, for the books that it lacks. In fact, Bebelplatz was the site of the Nazi’s largest book burning purges on the infamous night of May 10, 1933. Indeed, 20,000 books were burned here, including novels by greats like Hemingway and Alfred Döblin, among many others. Today, a window exists in the ground below where people can peer down to a room filled with empty bookshelves, with vacant space for the 20,000 lost books. This display is accompanied with a plaque that reads the famous quote of Heinrich Heine, ‘Dort, wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man am Ende auch Menschen.’ In English, the quote means, ‘Where they burn books, they will in the end also burn people.’

7. The Grimm Zentrum Library

Library, University

No talk of German literature would be complete without at least mentioning the Brothers Grimm. Berliners thought so, too, when they decided to name a library after them in commemoration of their time spent in the city, creating what would ultimately become the first German dictionary. Amidst the Grimm Zentrum Library’s collection, which is two million novels strong, exist many books that once belonged to the brothers. Compete with the hoards of students from Humboldt University for a seat in the modern multistory center reading room in order to get the full experience of what the library has to offer. Grimm enthusiasts can also visit the graves of the Brothers Grimm at a cemetery in Schöneberg.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.