Rudower Höhe

The Rudower Höhe is an artificially piled hill in the Rudow area of the Neukölln district, at the far southern edge of Berlin near the Brandenburg state line. At roughly 230 feet (70 meters) above sea level it counts among the higher points in the city. Like many Berlin elevations it is not a natural hill but a rubble mound: after World War II the debris of destroyed buildings was dumped here and later planted over, so that over the decades the wreckage of the war turned into a green lookout hill.

During a redesign the highest point was given the fitting name "Dörferblick," or village view. From there the eye sweeps across the surrounding former Teltow villages, over the towers of the Gropiusstadt housing estate, and on clear days far out into the Brandenburg countryside. Meadows, shrubs and paths cover the flanks, so the hill presents itself today as a naturalistic local recreation area where urban nature and history sit on top of each other.

What people come here for is the quiet and the sense of space, both rare in a densely built city. The climb is short but pays off especially at sunset, when the light lies across the landscape. Walkers, kite flyers and photographers find a worthwhile destination away from the big tourist flows. Sturdy shoes are a good idea in wet weather, since the paths are unpaved. The Rudower Höhe combines well with a ramble through the adjoining open landscape.