Treetop Walkway Extended

Anyone who comes to Beelitz should be sure to include a visit to the historic “Heilstätten” sanatoria. Stroll along the “Baum and Zeit” treetop walkway and let your gaze wander far into the distance. On a clear day you can see as far as Berlin. From the new, circular extension, you can see the buildings from the first construction phase, which were designed by architect Heino Schmieden and erected in 1902. From the south side, you have a bird´s eye view of the surgical hospital. For those looking for a bit of adventure, the new section of the walkway has a sky-boa and a huge hammock. Both guarantee a lot of fun for visitors of all ages and especially for families. The walkway, which was opened in 2015 and extended in 2020, is also accessible for visitors with restricted mobility. There is a lift to the top of the 40-metre-high tower, from where you can overlook the historic complex from a whole new perspective. A stroll along the 700-metre-long treetop walkway is just as spectacular, if not more so. Especially interesting is the “Alpine House”. This building burned out in April 1945 at the end of the Second World War, leaving behind an impressive ruin. Where the roof used to be, there is now a forest – the largest primeval rooftop forest in Germany. The trees have been growing there, on very little soil, for over 70 years and, with their roots, secure the ceiling of the building. Visitors can cross this unique biotope on the rooftop walkway.

The “Beelitzer Heilstätten”, built over 100 years ago, were the largest sanatoria complex in the German Empire and are a place still brimming today with stories of the past. They were where Berlin´s working class people came to recover from tuberculosis, surrounded by spacious forests, parks and gardens and the finest architecture. During both World Wars the complex was used as a military field hospital for German soldiers. Between 1945 and 1994, it was the largest military hospital of the Red Army outside the Soviet Union. Following the withdrawal of the Soviet Forces, many of the then still intact buildings were vandalised. Today these buildings with their romantic greenery radiate a charm reminiscent of old castles.

Further information: https://baumundzeit.de/english