From the outside, Berlin's last preserved gasometer made of stone seems almost unchanged. But a guided tour of the interior of the colossus in Fichtestraße reveals an insight into 130 years of the city's history. Since its construction in 1883/84, the circular building has stored so-called coal gas, which was used to illuminate the city's street lights until the 1930s. When the street lighting switched to electric power, the gas storage facilities were left empty. At the end of 1940, the building was converted into a large bunker to accomodate 6,500 mothers who were employed in war production facilities in case of air raids, together with their children. But given the heavy bombing of Berlin, up to 30,000 people crowded into the solid building. Even after the end of the war, the Fichtebunker offered shelter to those in need, offering accomodation especially for migrating refugees. In the 1950s, it was transformed into a nursing home and shelter for the homeless. After the Berlin blockade in 1948 that left West Berlin completely isolated, the city's Senate stored emergency supplies of hygiene articles and canned food at several locations throughout the city, including the Gasometer in Fichtestrasse. Between 1963 and 1988, the so-called "Senate reserves" were stored here. The Berlin Underground Assiciation (Berliner Unterwelten e.V.) offers guided tours of the Fichtebunker historical warehouse to bring the building's eventful past come to life.
Gasholder "History Storehouse Fichtebunker"
Fichtestraße 6
10967 Berlin
Germany
+49 (0) 30 - 49910517
Homepage
Recommended duration of visit: | 1,5 Hours |
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Duration of a guided tour: | 90 Minutes |
Admission: | Charge |
Access for persons with disabilities: | For details see website |
Guided Tours
January to June, September to December:
Thursday 4pm, 6pm
Saturday, Sunday 12am, 2pm
July to August:
daily 12am, 2pm, 4pm (Thursday also 6pm)