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The Manufacturing and Munitions bike route is one of five bike routes through Berlin’s industrial culture. Each tour sheds light on a different aspect of Berlin’s history.

Industrial development began in Spandau in 1772 with a weapons factory. Spandau subsequently grew to become the centre of the Prussian armaments industry as well as a fortified military town. Many sites still standing today bore witness to this time: The Citadel is the most impressive structure preserved from the era. In the early 20th century, industrialisation resulted in the formation of even more major corporations. A new district with a pioneering architecture formed around the new factories: The Siemensstadt with modern residences and leisure activities.

On this cycling route you can ride through what seems like a giant open-air museum of industrial culture and discover interesting sites with an exciting history.

At a glance

  • Not a signposted tour
  • Round trip
  • Best starting point: Spandau main station
  • Navigation via komoot: www.komoot.de/tour/508664008
  • Length: approx. 20 km
  • Duration: approx. 2 hrs (riding only)

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Cannon Foundry Workshop

  • Foundry for bronze cannons, and later for all calibres
  • Production of bed frames, agricultural machinery, and cars after World War I
  • Use as grain storage for Berlin Senate reserves during the Cold War

Garrison Washhouse

  • Army steam washhouse with boiler house and water tower, garrison bakery and army commissariat
  • Beer is brewed here since 1994

Royal Fireworks Laboratory

  • Production and testing of combustion, grenade, and signal rockets
  • Use as storage for Berlin Senate reserves and other purposes after World War I
  • Currently houses residential units

Haselhorst Reich Research Housing Development

  • Largest state-commissioned settlement of the Weimar Republic
  • Built around a functional floor plan
  • Visit a museum residence – learn more here

“Belgienhalle”

  • Iron frame hangar from Valenciennes (France), misleadingly named the Belgienhalle (Belgium Hangar)

Siemensstadt Housing Development

  • Rental housing and rowhouses for senior employees, constructed by architect Hans Hertlein

Jungfernheide Park

  • Base of the 1st Airship Battalion
  • Converted to parking after World War I

Siemensstadt Settlement

  • UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, a.k.a. Ringsiedlung
  • Six architects work on the settlement and construct small-scale housing for Siemens employees with low income
  • Famous structures: Langer Jammer by Bartning and Panzerkreuzer by Scharoun

Wernerwerk High-Rise / Wernerwerk X

  • New buildings named Wernerwerke after company founder Werner von Siemens
  • Numbering to avoid confusion
  • Architect Hans Hertlein: Creation of unmistakable Siemens style with objective and functional design
  • Formerly housed administration of Siemens & Halske as well as a factory library and presentation hall
  • Multiple companies are currently located here

Wernerwerk Station

  • Siemensbahn was constructed to bring Siemens employees to work quickly: Constructed in just 2 years
  • Operation suspended in 1980
  • The track is to be reopened

Wernerwerk II and Clock Tower

  • Emblem of Siemensstadt; 70 m tall clocktower containing a smokestack and a water reservoir

Siemens Headquarters

  • New administration HQ since early 20th century
  • Larger than every city hall in Berlin: five km long corridors, room for 5000 employees
  • Now houses the Siemens Historical Institute

High-Rise Switchgear Plant

  • Icon of industrial history with 175 m long production halls
  • Now: education and training centre

OSRAM Glass Factory

  • Manufacture of glass tubes for various lamps since 1927
  • OSRAM is a 100% subsidiary of Siemens from 1987-2013

Rifle Factory /BMW Motorcycle Plant

  • Rifle and munitions factory in early 20th century
  • BMW purchases the property in 1939 and starts by producing airplane engines
  • Motorcycle parts are produced starting in 1949, and complete motorcycles as of 1969
  • More information: BMW Motorcycle Plant

Munitions Factory/MOTORWORLD Manufaktur Berlin

  • Once part of the Prussian munitions industry, produced cars from 1928-1940
  • MOTORWORLD now presents sports cars and vintage cars

Spandau Citadel

  • Centre of Prussian munitions industry
  • Important military and representational function
  • More information: Citadel