Viktoriapark

The Kreuzberg is with 66 meters height the highest elevation of Berlin. Since the 15th century this ‘mountain’ was used to grow wine grapes. Today it is covered by a nice park that many Berliner use for a walk. On its top you’ll find the Prussian National Monument for the Liberation Wars – it was erected in 1821 after the victory against Napoleon Bonaparte in 1815. Initially it was planned to create a vast church in Gothic-style to commemorate this, but it was to costly.

Instead only the top of the planned tower was created as an iron statue. It contains twelve elements that symbolize twelve important battles of the war (including the battle of Leipzig in 1813). The memorial is standing on an eight meters high platform, but this platform was only added in 1879. The 200 tons of the memorial had to be lifted to the top; an engineering masterpiece.

From up there you have a nice (and unusual) view on the city around it. Another highlight of the Viktoriapark is a 24 meters high waterfall that was added from 1888 on. It was designed after the Zackelfall (Wodospad Kamieńczyka) near Szklarska Poręba (formerly Schreiberhau) in the Giant Mountains, today belonging to Poland.

Viktoriapark
Nationaldenkmal für die Befreiungskriege / Wasserfall
Kreuzberg
Berlin
Germany