Like clockwork, every spring, Spargel bursts on to the culinary scene across Germany. Beginning in mid-April, restaurants everywhere begin promoting their white asparagus dishes and astounding lines begin to form wherever Spargel is being sold. Like any love affair, Germans simply cannot get enough of it. If you want to experience Germany’s cult-like obsession for yourself, take a day trip to the town of Beelitz.
While Tempelhofer Feld attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, there is no doubt that far fewer people know about the nearby Natur-Park Schöneberger Südgelände. Just a few S-Bahn stops away from the beloved airport-turned-public-park, you’ll find another impressive urban space with eighteen hectares of nature, art, and technology.
While there is no doubt that Erpetal (the Erpe Valley) is a beautiful respite from the busy city in the summer months, a fresh snowfall or even a crisp and frosty morning makes this a perfect destination for a wintery walk. The best part? Erpetal is within Berlin’s city limits and is easily reachable with the S-Bahn.
Heilstätte Grabowsee is a 34-hectare complex which was originally built in 1896 to care for the rising number of tuberculosis patients coming from Berlin. The clinic survived both WWI and WWII, as well as the Soviet occupation. However, after the Soviets left in 1995, the rather impressive lakeside complex slowly fell into a state of disrepair. Today, the only inhabitants are a quirky Bavarian landscaper named Bernhard and his loyal German shepherd who, together, take care of this listed heritage site.
Have you ever wondered what stories statues might tell if they could talk? Which stories of the past they’d tell? Learn more about where to find Berlin’s 7 Talking Statues.