From the Panke to the heart of Berlin on a nature discovery trail

(S)Starting point: S-Bahnhof Berlin-Buch (south end of the platform, accessible via the S2)

Initial route: Follow the railway line southwards to the Karower Teiche nature reserve

(1) Karower Teiche: Former Rieselfelder (Berlin's sewage fields for 100 years). Today, there are several bird watching platforms and benches

(2) Blankenburg: Cross Buch and Karow, then follow the motorway behind Blankenburg. Formerly allotment gardens (Schrebergärten) until 1980, now mainly detached houses.

(3) Playground near the carp ponds

(4) Schlossallee: Pasewalker Straße leads to Schlossallee and Niederschönhausen Castle with its famous red sofa from the GDR era.

Niederschönhausen: Exhibition hall at the park entrance and information boards at the castle

Pankow: 200 metres to the left is the Pankow shopping centre and a little further on is the S-Bahn and U-Bahn station (you can start or end the route here)

Majakowskiring: Halfway along, you will see the Majakowskiring, where many famous people from the GDR lived.

(5) Pankeweg: Follow the course of the Panke river between old bourgeois houses

(6) Bürgerpark Pankow: Cross the Pankower Bürgerpark

(7) Mauerweg (Wall Path): Encounter with the Mauerweg

Under the railway line: Passage through former West Berlin. The S1 S-Bahn line ran through six stations without stopping under the territory and to allow passengers to change to the western lines at Friedrichstraße station, which was monitored by the Volkspolizei

Panke (Wedding): Find the Panke a little further to the right

(8) Walter-Nicklitz-Promenade: The next four kilometres of the Pankeweg are laid out and signposted as the Walter-Nicklitz-Promenade. There are numerous playgrounds and benches.

(9) Badstraße: Take a short detour to the right to cross Badstraße

(10) Uferstudios: The path passes in front of the Uferstudios, former Berlin film studios, now a dance school.

Amtsgericht Wedding: The impressive building on the left is one of Berlin's eleven district courts.

Europäisches Mahngericht: As you cross Schönstedtstraße, you will see the European Payment Court on your left.

(11) Gerichtsstraße: Former site of the gallows andplace of execution.

Chausseestraße: Follow Pankeweg to Chausseestraße, cross it slightly to the right and follow the signs for Mauerweg. On the left is the Mitte district (east), on the right is Wedding (west).

Erika-Heß-Eisstadion: After the Erika-Heß ice rink, turn right to reach the end of the Panke at Nordhafen

(12) Bundeswehrkrankenhaus and BND-Neubau: Pass the federal military hospital and the new BND (Federal Intelligence Service) building.

(13) Mauerwachturm (Günter Litfin Memorial): Remaining watchtower of the Berlin Wall (Günter Litfin Memorial), open every half hour between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (free, duration 20 minutes)

(14) Invalidenfriedhof: A few metres further on is the Invalidenfriedhof cemetery, followed by the Ministry of Economics

(15) Hamburger Bahnhof: The former Hamburg railway station on the opposite bank now serves as an art exhibition venue

(16) La Charité: After crossing Invalidenstraße, you will see the vast Charité complex with its medical history museum on your left

(17) Reichstag: Behind the railway tracks (long-distance trains and S-Bahn), you can cool your feet in the Spree opposite the Reichstag. These buildings house the offices of MPs, their staff, parliamentary groups and the Bundestag administration

(E) End of the itinerary.

Accessibility: The starting point is easily accessible by S-Bahn (line S2).

Several points along the route are close to S-Bahn and U-Bahn stations (Pankow, Wedding, Friedrichstraße), offering opportunities to start, end or interrupt the hike

Terrain: Mainly paths in parks and along rivers, with some urban sections

Food and accommodation: Shops and restaurants are available near public transport stations (Pankow, Wedding, Friedrichstraße).

The hike can be divided into two stages (Buch to Pankow and Pankow to Friedrichstraße) for a more relaxed experience.

• Karower Teiche Nature Reserve (bird watching)
• Niederschönhausen Castle (history of the GDR)
• Majakowskiring (former neighbourhood of prominent GDR figures)
• Pankower Bürgerpark (urban park)
• Uferstudios (former film studio, now a dance centre)
• Mauerwachturm (Günter Litfin Memorial) (Berlin Wall memorial)
• Invalidenfriedhof (historic cemetery)
• Old Hamburg Station (museum of contemporary art)
• Charité (historic university hospital and museum of medical history)
• Reichstag (German parliament)
• Mauerweg (remains and history of the Berlin Wall along the route)

And if you want to find out everything there is to do in Berlin, go directly to https://bonjourberlin.fr/que-faire-a-berlin/