Berlin - Husemannstrasse

Berlin's Husemannstrasse leads north from Kollwitzplatz. It has been tastefully renovated, and its old shops and inns give a good impression of what Berlin looked like at the beginning of this century. However, the attractiveness of this street is in stark contrast with the decay all around it.

A hairdressing museum has been laid out on the ground floor of the house at No. 8 Husemannstrasse. It displays an extraordinary collection of barbers' and hairdressers' tools and equipment, a medieval barber's salon, ornaments for the hair from a full-bottomed wig to a pigtail, and also a pedal-driven dentist's drill. "Life of the Berlin working class around 1900"

In the true tradition of the Prenzlauer Berg working-class district, this museum at No. 12 Husemannstrasse forms part of the Märkisches Museum. A combination of lectures and permanent and temporary exhibitions portrays the living conditions of working-class families in the city. The permanent exhibition shows the living room, bedroom, kitchen and furniture of such a family, as well as documentation explaining the construction of typical rented blocks of flats.

Rykestrasse runs parallel to Husemannstrasse, and at No. 53 will be found Germany's only synagogue; after having been destroyed in 1938 (and then used as a stable for horses) it was completely rebuilt in 1976-88.

Rykestrasse leads southwards to a hill on which stands the landmark of Prenzlauer Berg, the slender tower of the waterworks erected there in 1856. In 1873 the stout round tower was added, used as both a water store and as living quarters. In 1915 the towers no longer fulfilllled a functional need, but the round tower is still lived in today. In 1933, Nazi Storm Troopers converted its engine-room into a torture chamber, in which many anti-Fascists met their death (memorial stone).

Well worth a visit is Ernst-Thälmann-Park, between Prenzlauer Allee and Greifswalder Strasse. Here is situated the Zeiss Giant Planetarium, presenting a view of the world of the stars.