Tempelhofer Feld

 

At 300 hectares, Tempelhofer Feld is over 21 times larger than Görlitzer Park and ranks among the largest inner-city open spaces in the world. Where airplanes once took off, walkers, skaters, gardeners, and ravers now find their place. From birdwatching to community gardens—the “Field,” as many call it, offers space for everything. The airport, which was ultimately shut down in 2008, earned its enduring significance—not just for Berliners—during the Berlin Airlift from June 1948 to May 1949. Since then, the site has become a symbol of urban freedom. In 2014, Berliners voted in a referendum: no development, the field remains open. And that is exactly what makes it so special: a place to breathe deeply in the middle of the big city.

1 - Berlin’s largest meadow is mowed once a year: On Tempelhofer Feld, 300 hectares of grass are baled. That amounts to several hundred hay bales.

2 - Scenes from the movie THE HUNGER GAMES featuring its main character Katniss Everdeen were filmed on the grounds in 2014. The gigantic former airport building in particular is a popular film set.

3 - Every year, large areas are fenced off to provide safe nesting sites for the rare SKYLARK. The skylark nests on the ground and hides its nests in hollows it has scratched out in the grass.

4 - In 2020, roller-skating dancer OUMI JANTA became an overnight social media sensation thanks to a dance video filmed at Tempelhofer Feld. Since the video was released, she has been booked as a model by several international brands.

5 - Every year at the end of July, WUTHERING HEIGHTS DAY is celebrated worldwide with a flash mob. Hundreds of dancers dressed in red imitate Kate Bush’s dance choreography from her music video for “Wuthering Heights.” Several parks in Berlin also serve as meeting spots for this event.

6 - URBAN GARDENING is part of the cityscape in many places in Berlin. At Tempelhofer Feld, over 500 gardeners collectively run an “Intercultural Community Garden” spanning over 5,000 square meters.

7 - During the Berlin Airlift until May 1949, U.S. “raisin bombers” supplied the blockaded West Berlin with essential goods every minute.

8 - Whether it’s cycling, skating, Segway, wind sports, pedal cars, go-karts, basketball, table tennis, soccer, or bocce—Tempelhofer Feld offers SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS a wide range of activities.

9 - During the day the June beetle hides under leaves or in bushes, but on warm June evenings it swarms out in mass in search of a mate. In doing so, the insect often land on people’s heads, which irritates beetles and park visitors alike.

10 - Every year in early fall, professionals compete in a hosted show at the GIANT KITE FESTIVAL in front of thousands of spectators. The largest stunt kites are nearly 50 meters long. It takes about 800 square meters of fabric to make one of these giant kites, and they weigh around 60 kilograms.

Did you know …
… that over 200 animal species live on Tempelhofer Feld? These include rare birds, wild bees, amphibians, and bats.