Berlin-Lichtenrade

Lichtenrade, the southernmost district of Berlin's Tempelhof-Schöneberg borough, has a long history that stretches back to the 13th century. The former green village (Angerdorf), first mentioned in documents in 1375, has largely preserved its rural character. Its heart is the old village green, lined with trees and resembling a small park. At its center stand the historic village church and the Giebelpfuhl, considered the largest village pond in Berlin. The church, originally a plain fieldstone building from the early 14th century, was altered several times over the centuries. Today you can spot traces of this building history in the masonry, including the remains of bricked-up Gothic windows that were replaced by larger round windows in the 18th century. The present square tower, built of machine-cut fieldstones, dates from 1902 and crowns the church, which was restored after heavy war damage in World War II.

Besides its historic sites, Lichtenrade also offers architectural reminders of its industrial past. Beside the Dresden Railway stands the malt house of the Schöneberger Schlossbrauerei, built between 1897 and 1899, which today serves as a striking landmark in the local townscape. The cemetery, laid out in 1906 and thickly planted with lindens, maples, and spruces, invites a quiet stroll and has a park-like feel. In the south of the district, a memorial stone also commemorates German reunification. The infrastructure is well developed, and Lichtenrade S-Bahn station on the Berlin-Dresden rail line provides an important link to the surrounding region and Berlin's city transit network. The district thus combines historic village structures with modern urban infrastructure.