Silk, Sin and Stages: In and Out of Northern Friedrichstraße

Berlin's Friedrichstraße might be a narrow thoroughfare by Berlin standards, but this historic street has seen the passage of kings, revolutionaries, artists, and spies throughout its colorful existence. On this walking tour, you'll discover the hidden stories of Northern Friedrichstraße, exploring a fascinating neighborhood where cabaret entertainment, political intrigue, and everyday Berlin life have intertwined for centuries.

You'll begin at Bahnhof Friedrichstraße, the historic railway station whose curved iron bridge spans the Spree River. As you walk through what was once called Friedrich-Wilhelm-Stadt, you'll discover traces of the French Huguenot refugees who revitalized Berlin after the Thirty Years' War, bringing new crafts, foods, and culture. You'll weave through hidden courtyards, past the last surviving mulberry tree from early silk-making attempts, and along streets that once housed cabarets where Berlin's Golden Twenties roared.

You'll explore the Berliner Ensemble theater where Bertolt Brecht revolutionized German theater, and discover the legendary Friedrichstadt-Palast with its world-record revue stage. Along the way, you'll learn how the Panke River was tamed, see the mysterious Palace of Tears border crossing from Cold War days, and visit the Admiralspalast, which transformed from luxury baths to political gathering place. The tour ends at Bahnhof Friedrichstraße, perfectly positioning you to continue exploring central Berlin.

On this 120-minute tour, you'll have a chance to:

• Explore the Huguenot Quarter, where French Protestant refugees established a vibrant community that transformed Berlin's culture
• Stand at the site where Lenin witnessed The Weavers play at Deutsches Theater, a performance that so enraged Kaiser Wilhelm II he quit his royal box
• Discover the Boros Bunker, an air-raid shelter transformed into an extraordinary contemporary art collection with a penthouse on top
• Visit the Berliner Ensemble, where Brecht's stage still rotates on repurposed Soviet tank wheels
• See where Berlin's first cinema screening took place, beating the Lumière Brothers by five weeks
• Walk along the hidden path of the Panke River, once nicknamed Stinkepanke for its role as an open sewer
• Marvel at the Art Deco splendor of the Admiralspalast, which has been everything from luxury baths to East German political headquarters
• Learn how the area earned its reputation as Berlin's center of sin during the Weimar Republic years

Whether you're a history buff, architecture enthusiast, or simply curious about Berlin beyond the typical tourist spots, this walk through Northern Friedrichstraße offers a unique perspective on how this central yet often overlooked district has played a vital role in shaping Berlin's identity.

Title photo for this tour courtesy of the best contemporary night-photographer in Berlin, Mr Jan K Tyrel.