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Avoid the tourists in Mitte and head for the romantic historic Spandau Citadel
Review by Vincent Alblas
The Spandau Citadel is one of the best preserved Renaissance fortresses of Europe. Built from 1559–94 atop a medieval fort on an island created by the meeting of the Havel and the Spree, it was designed to protect the town of Spandau, which is now part of Berlin. In recent years it has been used as a museum and has become a popular tourist spot, mostly for Germans. I’ve been one of them (one of the tourists that is, not one of the Germans).
My experience
In the west of Berlin, bordering the Federal State of Brandenburg, there is an area of 91.91 km², commonly known as the borough of Spandau, which always has been practically unvisited by foreign tourists. Not only because there isn’t much to do except for a few things, but the necessary 30 minute S-Bahn ride to get from central Berlin to Spandau is too long in the mind of the Berlin traveler. Despite this long journey I’m still going to bother you with a lengthy review about some 16th century citadel that I myself only discovered after living in Berlin for more than a year. Why I still recommend visiting the Spandau Citadel? Read and find out.
The first time I visited the Citadel was the best ever. It was a cold Sunday afternoon in December, with rain and storm lurking from behind grey clouds, waiting for the right moment to show their might. There was something in the air that day that made me kind of dreamy. This combined with a lack of sleep from all the partying the night before made me drowsy.
Walking on the curtain walls, looking down at the big inner court, and smelling rain and thunder and centuries old brick work made me feel like I was the main character in an Assassin’s Creed-like story, in which I had to protect the old fortress from the raging mob that tried to force the gate. All right, maybe I should stop playing video games.
I can recommend visiting Spandau Citadel when you’re interested in historic stuff and when you for once try to avoid all the big streams of foreign tourists in Berlin’s central district of Mitte.
I know the first thing that probably came to your mind when I said Spandau was Spandau Ballet, the 80s pop group with hits like ‘Gold’ and ‘True’. Spandau Ballet’s name is indeed derived from the Berlin borough. But fortunately the Spandau Citadel (together with Spandau’s old town) is much more interesting than ‘Gold’ and any other lame 80s synthesizer pop song.
Hot tip
Visit the small but charming old city centre of Spandau, just a five minute walk away from the Citadel. Here you find streets full of medieval timber-framed houses.
Directions
Walk to the S-Bahn station behind the Generator Hostel. Take the S41 and change at Ostkreuz for the S75 to Spandau. Change here for the U-Bahn line U7 and get off at Zitadelle. This station is right next to the Spandau Citadel.
More info
Visit the official website www.zitadelle-spandau.de for more information (German only).
Entrance fee: € 4.50 (€ 2.50 for students), which also includes entrance to the museum, Julius Tower and exhibitions. The Citadel is opened all year, every day of the week, from 10am till 5pm.
