Bernau bei Berlin
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Bernau bei Berlin

Bernau bei Berlin

Historic Brandenburg town north of Berlin, with medieval gates and a landmark Bauhaus trade union school

Bernau bei Berlin is a small historic town about 25km north of Berlin, easily reached by S-Bahn (line S2). It has a well-preserved medieval centre, including three of its original town gates — the Steintor, the Werdertor, and the Mühlentor — and a history dating back to the 13th century. It makes an excellent half-day or full-day trip from Berlin for anyone interested in Brandenburg's medieval past and in one of the finest Bauhaus buildings in Germany.

The Heimatmuseum inside the Steintor covers 500 years of local history, from medieval brewing to local craft and daily life. The Pulverturm, a converted medieval gunpowder tower, now hosts the Wolf Kahlen Intermedia Arts Museum, an idiosyncratic space showing media art and video installation.

The biggest surprise in Bernau is the ADGB Trade Union School on the northern edge of town: a 1928 Bauhaus complex by Hannes Meyer, with its sinuous curved layout and radical social vision. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most significant pieces of modern architecture in the Berlin region. Combine it with a walk into the forests of Barnim Nature Park, which begins just beyond the town's edge, and you have a full day with genuine variety.

Guide

Getting There

Bernau bei Berlin is extremely easy to reach from Berlin. S-Bahn line S2 runs from central Berlin (Potsdamer Platz, Alexanderplatz, Gesundbrunnen) directly to Bernau in around 40 minutes. Trains run every 10 minutes during the day. The journey is covered by the Berlin ABC zone ticket.

Regional trains (RE3) also stop at Bernau on their way north from Berlin Hauptbahnhof. They are faster but less frequent. There is no airport near Bernau — Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is about 50km south, so the train via central Berlin is always the sensible option. By car, Bernau is directly on the A11 motorway, about 25km from central Berlin via the B2.

Guide

Things to Do

Bernau's medieval town walls and gates are the main draw — the Steintor, Werdertor, and Mühlentor survive in unusually good condition and are best seen on a short walking circuit of the old town. The Heimatmuseum inside the Steintor covers 500 years of local history and is worth an hour.

For architecture enthusiasts, the real prize is the ADGB Trade Union School about 4km north: a 1928 Bauhaus masterpiece by Hannes Meyer, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Combine it with a walk into Barnim Nature Park for a full day out of Berlin. The Pulverturm — a converted medieval gunpowder tower — hosts the Wolf Kahlen Intermedia Arts Museum, an eccentric and worthwhile stop for anyone interested in media art.