Register today! | Already registered? Sign in

traveldk.com

from Eyewitness Travel Guides: the world's bestselling travel guides
  • Personal guide
  • Open
Member image

Central Berlin: Scheunenviertel : Overview & Top 10

Submit an attraction

Make sure your favorite shops, restaurants, hotels and more are listed.

Submit an attraction illustration
WIN WIN WIN

Win a Garmin GPS!

Garmin sat nav
Download a podcast

Free podcasts Pick up a free podcast for Paris.

Join our free monthly newsletter

Advertisement

The Scheunenviertel, literally the “barn quarter”, Berlin’s former Jewish quarter, has experienced a unique revival in recent years. Originally, the thriving Jewish community lived in neighbouring Spandauer Vorstadt, beyond the city limits, while the Scheunenviertel was better known as a red-light district. The Nazis, however, applied the name of “Scheunenviertel” to both areas, in order to tarnish the Jews. After World War II the district was much neglected and gradually fell into decay. Today, many of the historic merchants’ yards and narrow side streets have been restored, reviving the Scheunenviertel’s unique and lively character. Many pubs and restaurants, galleries and shops are now based here and the area has become very fashionable with locals and visitors alike, especially at night. The tragic history of its former inhabitants, however, remains unforgotten.

Museum für Naturkunde: www.museum.hu-berlin.de
A Day in Scheunenviertel
Morning

Take the S-Bahn to Friedrichstraße and explore this road, Berlin’s former entertainment district. Walk north along the street up to Reinhardstraße, and turn left here towards Bertolt-Brecht-Platz. Continue south to Albrechtstraße to the Berliner Ensemble . Once you have admired the theatre where the great playwright used to work, you could make a detour to visit his home, Brecht-Weigel-Gedenkstätte in Chausseestraße. The best way to get there is on foot - walk along Chausseestraße. If you remain in Friedrichstraße and turn right behind Friedrichstadtpalast into Oranienburger Straße , you will get to the heart of the fashionable Scheunenviertel. At the corner of the street rises the arts centre Tacheles , and a few steps to the east the shiny golden dome of the Neue Synagoge will come into view .

Afternoon

Before exploring the Scheunenviertel district, you should take some refreshments; not far from the Synagogue is Café Oren . Walk along Tucholskystraße, then turn right into Auguststraße. Here you will find some of the most attractive courtyards, for example Kunsthof at the corner of Gartenstraße. Return along Auguststraße to Gedenkstätte Große Hamburger Straße and the Hackesche Höfe to shop and for an evening meal.

Advertisement

 Latest guides
What’s on now in Berlin
  • International Green Week Berlin
    The International Green Week Berlin is a unique exhibition for the food, agriculture and horticulture industries, held at the Messe Berlin. Producers from all over the world use the event to... Read more
  • Berlin Six Day Race
    Pedal power is the key as the Berlin Six Day Race challenges cyclists' skill, endurance and stamina at Berlin's Velodrom. More than 70,000 spectators are expected to watch the numerous races on offer. Read more
  • Club Transmediale
    The Club Transmediale festival celebrates its 10th birthday in 2009 with ten club nights and a day programme of workshops and installations exploring electronic and experimental music culture. The... Read more
  • Long Night of the Museums
    More than 110 of Berlin's museums, special collections and cultural projects keep their doors open until the early hours during the popular biannual event, the Long Night of the Museums. Read more