Jumping from the windows
In 1961 the houses on one side of Bernauer Straße were in the East, but the sidewalk in front of them was in the West. People jumped from their windows to escape before the windows were bricked up.
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Berlin Wall Memorial: the history, and the street that was split in two
On Bernauer Straße the Wall ran right along the fronts of the houses, and some of its most dramatic escapes happened here. Here's what you're looking at, and what to listen for as you walk it.
Wall built13 Aug 1961
Wall fell9 Nov 1989
Memorialsince 1998
Length1.4 km
Hear the Berlin Wall Memorial story, in the app's voice
A short preview. The full story plays on its own when you walk up to it with Urban Tales.
Three stories most visitors miss
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Tunnels under the street
Several escape tunnels were dug beneath this street. In 1964, 57 people crawled to the West through "Tunnel 57".
3
A church in the death strip
The Church of Reconciliation stood inside the border strip, unreachable for its own parish. East Germany blew it up in 1985; a chapel made of rammed earth now stands on its site.
TipClimb the viewing tower of the Documentation Center across the street to see a full section of the border strip, with its watchtower, from above. With Urban Tales running, the memorial's story plays as you walk along Bernauer Straße.
Nearby landmarks
Berlin Wall Memorial: common questions
Is the Berlin Wall Memorial free?
Yes, the open-air memorial, the Visitor Center and the Documentation Center are free.
Where can you see the original Berlin Wall?
At Bernauer Straße you can see a preserved section of the Wall with the border strip and a watchtower behind it.
How long is the Berlin Wall Memorial?
It runs about 1.4 kilometers along Bernauer Straße.