Tempelhofer Feld

Originally used as a parade ground for the Prussian military in the 18th century, Tempelhofer Feld eventually became a cradle of aviation. In the early 1900s, it hosted flight demonstrations by pioneers like Orville Wright. By 1923, it was officially designated as an airport, quickly growing into one of the busiest hubs in Europe and a symbol of modern transport. During the Nazi era, the airport was drastically expanded to reflect the regime's architectural ambitions, resulting in the massive semi-circular terminal building that remains today. However, its most heroic chapter occurred during the Cold War. In 1948 and 1949, the field was the primary site of the Berlin Airlift, where Allied 'Raisin Bombers' landed around the clock to provide essential supplies to the blockaded citizens of West Berlin. After its closure as a commercial airport in 2008, the future of the site was fiercely debated. While developers proposed massive housing projects, the people of Berlin fought to keep the space open. A 2014 public referendum secured the field's status as a public park, preserving its runways and vast meadows as a unique urban sanctuary for recreation, nature conservation, and historical reflection.