Rebels & Exiles: A West Berlin Literary Walking Tour

Explore the West Berlin haunts of legendary writers Joseph Roth, Walter Benjamin, Vicki Baum, Irmgard Keun and many others, and learn more about the history and impact of Berlin literature. This tour visits the sites of legendary bars and café when the area around Ku’damm was the epicentre of Berlin publishing in the Weimar Republic and the stories of those who frequented them, and loops back through Kantstrasse in the 1960s and 1980 when the area again was home to a new generation of writing rebels escaping conservative West Germany to the frontier city of Berlin. Ever wanted to know why Kurt Tucholsky had a “book bar” and where Jörg Fauser went to bed with Kommune 1?

1. 1

   Europa-Center

   30 min

   We will finish the our at the Romanisches Cafe exhibition in Europa-Center

2. 2

   Stop 2

   10 min

   Our first stop is the Stolperstein of John Hoexter here.

3. 3

   Stop 3

   5 min

   We will also talk about the artistic legacy of the whole area, including film, visual art and music.

4. 4

   Walter-Benjamin-Platz

   10 min

   We will talk about legendary philosopher and writer Walter Benjamin, and why the architecture of the square named after him does not really represent his legacy.

5. 5

   Stop 5

   10 min

   We will also stop at this legendary haunt of Iggy Pop and David Bowie.

6. 6

   Savignyplatz

   5 min

   Looping back to Bahnhof Zoo via Savignyplatz and Kantstrasse, we discover what West Berlin writers were active here in the 1970s and80s.

7. 7

   Stop 7

   5 min

   We will talk about the impact of hotel writing on Weimar and world literature, exemplified by the works of Joseph Roth and Vicki Baum.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.