You can find the Von der Schulenburg Park in the southern part of Sonnenallee, in Neukölln. Known to the people who live around it as Schulenburg Park this green space in Berlin is one of the many hidden gems this city has that hide in plain sight. At least, this is how I felt when I, once again, cycled in front of the park and, finally, decided to see what is in there.
And what I found was this beautiful green park filled with sycamore trees, ducks and a beautiful fountain that dominates the view of the park. The fountain is called Märchenbrunnen im Schulenburgpark and it’s a fairy tale fountain created by the sculptor Ernst Moritz Geyger in 1919 but only installed on its final place 15 years later, in 1934.
The history of Von der Schulenburg Park in Neukölln
The area which we call Von der Schulenburg Park was first identified as a green area way back in 1913 but it didn’t have a name. The area was considered unsuitable for urban development due to a marshy terrain and it started being used by the people who lived around it. Around 1920, the place got its name from Rudolf Wilhelm Graf von der Schulenburg, the president of Brandenburg from 1914 to 1917, and a couple of years later it was developed following the design we have today. Two paths surrounded by sycamore trees and a mirror pool in the middle pointing to the south part of the park.
During the years after the Second World War, the park didn’t get all the love it needed and it was increasingly neglected. Even the fountain was damaged by vandals and it only changed in 1970 when Schulenburg Park was first restored. Almost 40 years later, it was restored again by the Neukölln District Office who spent almost 200,000 euros to restore paths and the fountain and 250,000 euros for a new playground as well. The restoration and repair work was so well done that Schulenburg Park ended up being awarded for its beauty and outstanding planning of public spaces in 2008. Yes, there is an award for that and it is called Gustav-Meyer-Prize.
The Fountain at Schulenburg Park in Neukölln
The fountain is the focal point of the park and, as you enter the park, it will be the place where you will walks towards. Yes, the fountain has this weird power. It is designed in a way that makes you want to look closer. The mixture of Art Nouveau and gothic elements is beautiful and it shows elements natural to german forests. The Märchenbrunnen in Schulenburg Park almost looks like a cathedral for the forest. And I believe that this was the idea that sculptor Ernst Moritz Geyger had when he first started designing it back in 1915.
The fountain went through a lot of damage during the years as Berlin suffered through the Second World War and the Cold War that followed it. During the war, its bronze parts were dismantled and melted down. The rest of it fell by vandalism and lack of proper care. In the 1970’s, the fountain was restored and two fairytale characters by Katharina Szelinski-Singer were added to it.
Today, you can see how everything falls into place really well and fit perfectly to the beautiful place where it stands. Schulenburg Park in Neukölln is one of the many hidden gems that Berlin has and you need to go there to relax on the grass and see how beautiful the place is. I got there by bike but you can take the train there as well since the place is really close to Köllnische Heide S-Bahn. But you can get there anyway you want. Just take a look at the map above and you will find your way there.
Von der Schulenburg Park in Neukölln
Sonnenallee 302 12057 Berlin
