Großbeeren brings together places of remembrance, architecture and industrial history. The 32-metre-high memorial tower, Schinkel Church and the decommissioned sewage farm represent different chapters in the town’s history. The Bülow Pyramid also has a permanent place in local commemorations: the Bülow Memorial Run is held there every year during the Victory Festival at the end of August.
Memorial Tower and Bülow Pyramid
The memorial tower was built in 1913 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Großbeeren. The museum on the ground floor commemorates the battle of 23 August 1813. The tower also depicts the liberation movement around 1813 and includes, among other things, a diorama of the battle. In good weather, the view from its observation platform extends more than 30 kilometres across the surrounding countryside; visibility therefore depends on the weather.
The Bülow Pyramid on Windmill Hill is a separate place of remembrance. It was built in 1906 and is dedicated to General von Bülow. The Bülow Memorial Run, held every year during the Victory Festival at the end of August, starts and finishes at the pyramid. If you plan to combine your visit with the festival, check the specific event dates and programme in advance, as the annual programme may vary.
The sewage farm: a testament to the city’s history
The decommissioned Großbeeren sewage farm is an important testament to Berlin’s history. Its main components have been protected as historic monuments since 1999. For orientation, the site is at the end of Trebbiner Straße; it is about a ten-minute walk from the memorial tower in the centre of Großbeeren. This short route description connects two distinct historical subjects: the commemoration of the battle and the history of the sewage farm. It also indicates where the site is in relation to the tower.
Schinkel’s church in the Neo-Gothic style
The Evangelical Schinkel Church in Großbeeren was built between 1818 and 1820 in the Neo-Gothic style, based on a design by Karl Friedrich Schinkel. Its interior was also designed according to Schinkel’s plans. The floor plan is shaped like a Greek cross. The church was presented to King Frederick William III in gratitude for the victory in the Battle of Großbeeren. The building thus connects a historical event with a clearly identified architectural design.
Compared with the distinctive fieldstone churches in neighbouring towns, Schinkel Church stands out for its unusual exterior. The dates help place Großbeeren’s sites of remembrance in context: the battle of 1813 was followed by the church’s construction between 1818 and 1820, the Bülow Pyramid in 1906 and the memorial tower in 1913. This makes it possible to distinguish the buildings and their different connections to the town’s history.
Cultural attractions in the wider Teltow-Fläming destination
The wider Teltow-Fläming destination offers more cultural attractions. The Baruther Glashütte settlement is a monument of European significance. It has a lively glass museum with a working furnace, and traditional workshops produce unique pieces and small batches. Glassmaking and craftsmanship offer a different focus from Großbeeren’s places of remembrance.
The museum in the Monastery of the Monks in Jüterbog presents regional archaeology, as well as the history of the Reformation and the city’s military history, across three floors. In Kloster Zinna, the monastery museum combines the history of the former Cistercian monastery with a demonstration distillery. Demonstrations show how the essences for the herbal liqueur “Klosterbruder” are made. These examples add further distinct elements to the cultural offerings in the wider Teltow-Fläming destination.
Discover more destinations: Niederer Fläming, Niedergörsdorf, Kemnitz, Jüterbog, Am Mellensee, Woltersdorf, Blankenfelde-Mahlow, Nuthe-Urstromtal.
See the wider travel overview: Teltow-Fläming.
