A visit to the Teufelsberg is mysterious, shocking, exciting, and even feels a bit adventurous. Located at the northern edge of the Grunewald, Teufelsberg is one of the highest points in Berlin and ranks as one of its quirkiest attractions.

This 120-meter-high man-made hill, the second-highest in Berlin, consists of 25 million cubic meters of rubble from 400,000 bombed-out houses. Planted with one million trees, it now offers various recreational activities, including rock climbing, mountain biking, and opportunities for hang gliding and paragliding. During the winter, its sledding slopes attract visitors, while in summer, people come here to enjoy a beer and the breathtaking view.

And who knows, maybe you’ll visit Teufelsberg on Halloween, October 31, and find that some of the mountain’s myths come true.

Teufelsberg - "Devil's Mountain" in Berlin

Location & Sights nearby

Teufelsberg is located in the northern Grunewald of Berlin. Getting there isn’t straightforward. If you take the S-Bahn, be prepared for a long hike uphill through the wooded slopes. Driving is the most convenient option, though cycling is also a possibility.

Nearby, Teufelssee becomes a summer hotspot where Berliners gather for picnics and admire the beautiful sunset. In Grunewald, you can fly kites, paraglider, mountain bike, or hike year-round. During summer, sailboats glide across the Havel River.

A Brief History of Teufelsberg

How it all began…

During the era of emperors and kings, the area was shrouded in mystery, covered with moors and swamps. By 1915, Berlin had grown into a bustling city of 3.8 million people. To provide a recreational area for the city’s population, the magistrate designated the space as a green area for public enjoyment.

However, with Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in 1933, plans shifted. The site was designated for a new university city along Heerstraße. Architect Hans Malwitz designed a faculty building, and the foundation stone was laid on November 27, 1937, in the presence of Hitler and his favorite architect, Albert Speer.

The outbreak of World War II abruptly ended construction. By February 1940, all non-military projects were halted. After the war, Berlin was reduced to rubble—more than three-quarters of its buildings destroyed, resulting in approximately 100 million cubic meters of debris.

Teufelsberg: From Rubble Hill to Spy Mountain

Unimaginably, by December 11, 1972, a total of 26,181,310 cubic meters of rubble had been dumped here. Initially haphazardly piled, the mountain gradually took shape and became part of Berlin’s cityscape.

Situated in the British-occupied sector, the hill soon piqued the interest of the British and American allied forces. In the 1960s, the first antenna trucks were stationed here to test the feasibility of espionage. The results were promising, and permanent antennas were installed.

When the last truckload of rubble was dumped, the hill became home to a field station dedicated to surveillance and espionage. From the Cold War's beginning until its end in 1989, the Teufelsberg served as a listening station for the Western allies, intercepting communications from the Warsaw Pact, East German authorities, and the USSR.

The full extent of its operations remains a mystery; allied archives, set to open after 2020, may provide answers. The station was dismantled by 1992.

What Happened to Teufelsberg After 1996?

In 1996, the Berlin government sold the site to the investor group Teufelsberg GbR, which planned to develop a leisure area with hotels, residential buildings, parking, and a new observation tower.

However, these plans failed, and the project’s financing collapsed by 2000. A legal regulation passed on August 15, 2005, revoked the site's development plan, effectively halting private construction projects.

By 2006, the area had become an abandoned site, plagued by theft and vandalism. In 2010, a new leaseholder brought the structure back to the site, reopening it to visitors.

He also established Europe’s largest graffiti gallery on the premises.

Address, opening hours...

Address: Teufelsberg, 14055 Berlin
Opening Hours: Mon–Sun, 12 PM to sunset
How to Get There: S-Bahn stations Heerstraße, Grunewald, or Olympiastadion, followed by a hike.

The former listening station can only be visited as part of a guided tour.

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