The best city hikes and walks around Volkspark Wuhlheide

Fast connection from Wuhlheide to Oberschöneweide.

An important place for the residents of Adlershof to breathe fresh air and take a walk.

A beautiful view in both directions across the Spree River to Schöneweide. Among other things, the old industrial buildings are visible. Incidentally, the name "Kaisersteg" (Emperor's Bridge) in Berlin-Schöneweide is a reminder of the time of German Emperor Wilhelm II. Back then, a pedestrian bridge already existed at this location to transport workers from the burgeoning industrial plants, such as the Oberspree Cable Works (KWO) and the AEG factories, to their workplaces. The current bridge is a modern successor to this historic connection across the Spree.

The transformer station (substation) at Wilhelminenhofstraße 78 in Oberschöneweide is part of the former Oberspree power plant, Germany's first three-phase power plant, which went into operation in 1897. In the substation, built in 1912, the electricity from the neighboring power plant was transformed and distributed to the surrounding area. Directly adjacent is the switchgear building (built in 1933) by Hans H. Müller. Both buildings are listed as historical monuments.

The newly created town square on the Oberschöneweide side was opened shortly after the completion of the new Kaisersteg footbridge on December 13, 2007. A design competition was even launched in 2005 for the open space between the exhibition halls, the Kaisersteg, and Wilhelminenhofstraße, which runs north of the industrial complex. The town square lies between the exhibition halls and a hotel development that is currently only in the planning stages. The eastern edge of the square is bordered by a lawn, low walls, and trees. Three angled lampposts add visual interest. Nevertheless, in my opinion, the square appears unfinished and not very inviting. Perhaps this will change with the opening of the "Schauhallen" (exhibition halls). According to a concept by Kahlfeldt Architects, the halls are intended to house museums, collections, and galleries. Source, among others: https://www.german-architects.com/de/architecture-news/building-of-the-week/zuerst-der-platz

Built in 1901, the villa initially served as the official residence of Richard Lehmann, the Jewish owner of the textile company Anton & Alfred Lehmann AG in Niederschöneweide. After the Lehmanns were expropriated and murdered in 1942, the villa first became the Nazi public health office and, after World War II, primarily housed the military district command of the NVA (National People's Army of the GDR) until approximately 1989. Even after German reunification, the villa remained an administrative building, most recently for the Treptow-Köpenick public order office. From 2006 to 2014, the villa was partially vacant. In January 2014, the property was slated for sale to an investor. At the last minute, the sale was halted in favor of the NOVILLA project proposed by Moving Poets Berlin, with the support of a resolution passed by the Treptow-Köpenick district assembly. Source and more information: https://www.movingpoets.org/concrete5/index.php/novilla

Unfortunately, the new bridge, built in 2007, bears no resemblance whatsoever to the original. The delicate iron truss structure, designed by Heinrich Müller-Breslau (one of the leading structural engineers of his time), was blown up in the final days of World War II and was considered one of the most significant achievements of engineering around 1900. Further information and images can be found at: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaisersteg

On the Spreeuferpromenade along Hainstraße in Niederschöneweide, the sculpture „Gärtner“ by Karl-Heinz Schamal from 1963 stands in a small park. The funny fellow seems to have had a varied history. He was stolen, a copy was made, there were further attempted thefts and especially vandalism, during which an arm was even broken off. The construction work on the Kaisersteg also did him no good, so the parks department dismantled and stored him for the time being. Later he was restored and placed at the entrance to the parks department in Rinkartstraße in Baumschulenweg. A citizens' initiative finally ensured that the "Gärtner" returned to its original location on March 14, 2023. Incidentally, another cast stands as "Gärtnerjunge" on Potsdam's Freundschaftsinsel. Source etc.: https://www.linksfraktion-treptow-koepenick.de/aktuelles/detail-artikel/der-gaertner-gruesst-wieder-am-spreeufer-skulptur-ist-an-urspruenglichen-standort-zurueckgekehrt/