Berlin Heritage - Historical Cemeteries

Discover Berlin’s history through its cemeteries

Some of Berlin’s most fascinating stories are found in places where the city falls silent.

Join Dr. Gunnar Strunz, a distinguished expert on Berlin’s cultural and historical heritage, on an exclusive journey through two of the city’s most remarkable historic cemeteries.

With his profound knowledge and keen eye for historical detail, Dr. Strunz reveals the stories behind famous names, forgotten places and extraordinary works of funerary art. Along the way, Berlin’s history unfolds from the grandeur of Prussia to the upheavals and transformations of the 20th century.

A Personal Beginning

Your experience begins at the Fotografiska Café on Oranienburger Straße. Over coffee or tea, you will meet your personal Berlin Guru, Dr. Strunz, and get an introduction to the themes and personalities that will shape the journey ahead.

Then, together, you set off into the city – following traces of Berlin’s cultural, political and architectural history.

Fame, Art & Eternity

Your first destination is the Dorotheenstädtischer Friedhof, one of Berlin’s most celebrated historic cemeteries.

Among its elegant graves and sculptures lie figures who profoundly shaped German intellectual and cultural life, including Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Bertolt Brecht and Johannes Rau.

Amid old trees, beautifully crafted monuments and quiet paths, Dr. Strunz brings these personalities back to life – revealing not only who they were, but also the fascinating stories and historical connections behind their graves.

Iron, Industry & the Memory of a Divided City

The journey continues through the historic streets of Berlin-Mitte towards Invalidenstraße, passing the site of the former Royal Iron Foundry.

Once one of Berlin’s important industrial enterprises, the foundry produced numerous metal grave crosses for the city’s cemeteries – an intriguing connection between Berlin’s industrial heritage and its culture of remembrance.

At nearby Invalidenpark, you encounter the striking granite sculpture “Versunkene Mauer” (Sunken Wall), a powerful reminder of Berlin’s divided past.

Prussian Heroes & Silent Graves

The final destination is the Invalidenfriedhof, originally established as a burial ground for senior Prussian military officers.

Its surviving graves bear witness to war, power, political upheaval and the profound changes that have shaped Germany over the centuries. Today, around 200 graves remain.

Among the cemetery’s most impressive monuments is the tomb of Prussian General Gerhard von Scharnhorst. A sleeping lion rests above the monument, set upon two 5.60-metre-high marble pillars – an extraordinary masterpiece of Neoclassical funerary art.

Lunch at Bundesbüdchen

After the walk, join Dr. Strunz and your fellow guests for a relaxed two-course lunch at Bundesbüdchen, where traditional German cuisine provides the perfect setting to reflect on the experience.

Over good food and stimulating conversation, the historical journey comes to an end - with time for personal exchange, questions and perhaps a few more stories from your Berlin Guru.

A deeply personal way to discover Berlin - through its history, its personalities and the places where their stories remain.

Note

For this program, the coffee or tea served at the start is included in the price, but lunch is not. You are free to order something at your own expense or simply join the group at the restaurant to socialize.