Teufelsberg Spy Station Tour
Futuristic forms of a military radar installation and impressive works of street artists. On the Teufelsberg Spy Station tour with an engaging Urbex Tour guide, you’ll explore the Cold War-era American spy station complex and climb to the rooftop for one of the best views of East Berlin.
Price – 24,99€
Duration – 2,5 hour
What you explore:
- Where is the largest artificial mountain in Berlin?
- Explore one of the most secret pages of German history
- Visit one of the best observation platforms in the city
- See unusual military architecture
- Feel like a street art connoisseur
F.A.Q.
Dress according to the weather and be sure to wear comfortable shoes! We will walk a lot, including along the overgrown paths of the cemetery.
Be sure to bring water with you if it’s hot outside.
Meeting point
On the station platform S-Bahnhof Grunewald
Teufelsberg, meaning “Devil’s Mountain” in German, is a fascinating and enigmatic location situated in the heart of Berlin, Germany. This artificial hill, rising 120 meters above the city, hides a remarkable secret beneath its densely forested exterior. Teufelsberg is home to the remnants of a once highly classified and secretive intelligence-gathering operation that played a pivotal role in the Cold War era.
The story of Teufelsberg begins in the aftermath of World War II when Berlin was divided into four occupation zones controlled by the Allied powers: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union. The American sector, in particular, sought ways to intercept and gather intelligence on communications and activities from the Soviet-controlled East Berlin and the surrounding region.
In the 1950s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers embarked on a colossal construction project atop Teufelsberg. Over the course of 20 years, they piled over 75,000 cubic meters of rubble from the war-damaged city, creating the distinct artificial hill. Atop this hill, they built a massive listening station known as the “Field Station Berlin Teufelsberg.” This complex included a collection of radomes and antenna arrays that were used to intercept radio and communication signals from East Germany and the Soviet Union.
Throughout the Cold War, Teufelsberg was a critical hub for intelligence-gathering and played a significant role in the United States’ efforts to monitor Soviet and East German communications. It’s said that the station could intercept telephone calls, radio transmissions, and other forms of communication, providing valuable insights into the activities of the Eastern Bloc.
With the end of the Cold War and the reunification of Germany, the importance of Teufelsberg diminished. The station was officially closed in 1992, and the equipment was dismantled and removed. The vast complex fell into disrepair and was left to nature and the elements. It became a haven for urban explorers, graffiti artists, and curious visitors keen on uncovering the secrets of this Cold War relic.