Wünsdorf
The Forbidden City South of Berlin
While people take selfies at the World Clock on Alexanderplatz in front of the TV Tower or pay 26 euros for a view over Berlin, an abandoned Soviet military town south of the city is slowly falling apart — with deserted swimming halls, underground bunkers, theaters and a daily train connection to Moscow once running through it.
For decades, a sealed-off parallel world existed in the middle of Brandenburg, complete with:
- its own schools
- shops
- cultural centers
- sports facilities
- barracks
- cinemas
- and military command headquarters.
For ordinary East German citizens, this place was off limits.
Guarded. Walled off. Isolated.
Today, Wünsdorf is mostly known within the urbex and abandoned-places scene.
We’re talking about Wünsdorf — the former “Forbidden City” south of Berlin.
And honestly:
After this blog, you’ll understand why Brandenburg can be far more interesting than many of Berlin’s classic tourist attractions.
What Was the “Forbidden City” of Wünsdorf?
For decades, Wünsdorf was one of the most important military sites in Europe.
Back during the German Empire, the area already contained:
- military training grounds
- barracks
- communication centers
- military hospitals
- sports and training facilities.
Later, the Nazis massively expanded the site. This is where the famous bunker complexes were built:
- Maybach I
- Maybach II
- Zeppelin.
Parts of the Wehrmacht were organized from Wünsdorf, and military operations were coordinated here. Even communication infrastructure during World War II ran through these facilities.
After the war, the Soviet Union took control of the area.
And that’s where the real story of the “Forbidden City” begins.
Because in the middle of Brandenburg, the largest Soviet military town outside the Soviet Union suddenly emerged.
At times, the area was home to:
- up to 75,000 Soviet soldiers
- officers
- families
- children.
Complete with:
- schools
- kindergartens
- cinemas
- cultural centers
- sports facilities
- shops
- hospitals
and even a daily train connection to Moscow.
When you walk through the abandoned buildings today and imagine that three or four people once lived in every apartment, the entire site suddenly feels even bigger.
And at the same time, even emptier.
Wünsdorf History at a Glance
1870s
The area around Wünsdorf sees its first military use.
1910–1913
Construction of large barracks complexes, communication centers and the infantry school.
1915
Germany’s first mosque is built in the so-called Half Moon Camp.
1933–1939
The Nazis transform Wünsdorf into a military power center. Construction of the Maybach I, Maybach II and Zeppelin bunkers.
1945
The Red Army takes control of the site.
1953
Wünsdorf becomes the headquarters of the Soviet armed forces in Germany.
1994
Withdrawal of Soviet troops from Germany.
Today
Wünsdorf is:
- a book town
- a bunker town
- an abandoned place
- a historical site
and one of the most surreal places near Berlin.
How Did We Even End Up in Wünsdorf?
Originally, we wanted to visit the Beelitz Heilstätten that day. Until we saw the ticket prices. And I decided to ask for free access instead.
Shortly after that, I remembered an old video I had saved months earlier:
An abandoned Soviet town south of Berlin.
After two minutes of Googling, we already knew:
We wanted to go there.
Completely spontaneous:
RE7 or RE2 from Ostkreuz.
And even the train ride somehow felt absurd.
The train was full of:
- people heading to Tropical Islands
- families carrying swim bags
- day trippers exploring Brandenburg
- people on their way to the Spreewald.
So here’s the first warning straight away:
If you go on a warm day, the regional train will probably be crowded.
And honestly, that’s exactly what makes Brandenburg so interesting.
One stop further, people go boating through the Spreewald.
The next stop, they head into a giant indoor water park.
And just a few kilometers away, an abandoned Soviet military town with bunker complexes and theater halls is slowly decaying in the middle of the forest.
Brandenburg is massively underrated.
We got off at Brand (Tropical Islands) somewhere in the absolute middle of nowhere in Brandenburg — and then simply took the shuttle bus from the Tropical Islands Resort.
Still feels surreal to this day that we took a free shuttle bus from a giant water park to a former Soviet ghost town.
From Ostkreuz, the trip takes about an hour.
And that’s exactly why Wünsdorf works perfectly as a day trip from Berlin.
Especially because you could theoretically continue straight to the Spreewald afterwards.
Why Was Wünsdorf Called the Forbidden City?
For decades, the Soviet military town was a restricted area.
Walls.
Fences.
Guard posts.
Special permits.
Ordinary East German citizens were not allowed to enter the site.
Right in the middle of Brandenburg, a sealed-off parallel world emerged with:
- its own schools
- Russian shops
- cultural centers
- sports facilities
- military theaters
- and its own infrastructure.
There was even a separate section at the train station for the daily train connection to Moscow.
Today, it almost sounds dystopian.
But it was real.
Right next to it, you’ll also find the massive hangar of the Tropical Islands Resort. If you’re interested in the history behind it, our blog about Tropical Islands and the former CargoLifter hangar is definitely worth reading.
Germany’s First Mosque Was Built in Wünsdorf
One detail almost nobody knows:
During World War I, the so-called Half Moon Camp was established in Wünsdorf.
Thousands of Muslim prisoners of war were held there. For them, Germany’s first mosque was built in 1915.
That fact alone already shows how absurdly complex the history of this place really is.
Because Wünsdorf connects:
- the German Empire
- World War I
- National Socialism
- the Soviet Union
- the Cold War
- East Germany
- an abandoned place
- and today’s ghost town
all within a single site.
While many tourists in Berlin barely scratch the surface of the city, places like this — hidden south of the capital — contain over a hundred years of European military history.
What Does Wünsdorf Look Like Today?
Short answer:
Like a frozen parallel world.
The moment you enter the site, the atmosphere suddenly changes completely.
Everywhere you look:
- abandoned barracks
- graffiti
- old schools
- Soviet relics
- broken windows
- long corridors
- huge halls
- empty apartments.
In some buildings, you can still find:
- old blackboards
- mailboxes
- Russian documents
- electrical boxes
- ovens
- old bathroom fittings
- newspapers
- desks inside the former school buildings.
Other buildings, on the other hand, feel completely stripped out.
You notice pretty quickly:
Many of the truly personal items you sometimes still find in lesser-known abandoned places have long disappeared from Wünsdorf.
You’ll hardly come across family photos, letters or fully preserved apartments anymore.
But instead, you feel something else:
The sheer scale of this place.
At times, you walk through massive attics, hear birds nesting somewhere above you, and suddenly find yourself standing inside abandoned swimming halls or old theater rooms.
And even though nobody has lived here for decades, the place doesn’t feel dead.
More like history never really left it.
The House of Officers in Wünsdorf
Probably the most impressive building on the entire site is the so-called “House of Officers.”
The massive complex was originally built as an imperial gymnastics academy. Later, it became the Wünsdorf Army Sports School.
Even German athletes connected to the 1936 Olympic Games trained here.
The complex included:
- fencing halls
- sports halls
- a swimming hall
- an indoor riding arena
- huge staircases
- an officers’ casino
- theater sections.
When the Soviets arrived, the entire purpose of the building changed.
The large sports halls were transformed into:
- concert halls
- cinemas
- cultural centers
- event venues for the Red Army.
Today, you’ll find:
- empty stages
- massive halls
- abandoned swimming pools
- long corridors covered in dust.
And right in front of it:
a giant Lenin statue. Silent. Weathered. Almost forgotten.
Behind the House of Officers, there’s also a huge and now heavily decayed diorama building.
The Soviets once displayed a monumental panoramic painting there called “The Storming of the Reichstag by the Red Army.”
The original artwork was taken away after the withdrawal of Soviet troops. Today, the circular building stands empty and slowly decays in the middle of the forest.
The entire place feels more like an abandoned castle or a movie set than a former military complex.
The Abandoned Swimming Hall
The swimming hall is probably one of the most famous photo spots on the entire site.
And honestly:
You immediately understand why.
Some of the lane ropes are still hanging from the ceiling. Old tiles. Broken windows. Silence.
Sometimes, you can only hear birds somewhere beneath the roof.
Parts of the complex are now heavily damaged and no longer completely safe. Some areas have been closed due to the risk of collapse.
And that’s exactly why:
Learn from our mistakes.
We didn’t bring a proper flashlight.
Classic urbex beginners.
And no:
Your phone light really isn’t enough in there.
If you visit places like this:
- bring proper flashlights
- wear sturdy shoes
- take water and snacks with you
- watch out for broken glass, holes and damaged floors.
And of course:
Respect the place.
Graffiti has become part of many abandoned places by now, but the well-known urbex rules should still be respected.
If you’re interested in more places like this, our blog about Lost Places in Berlin or our blog about photo spots in Berlin are definitely worth checking out.
The Bunkers of Wünsdorf
Beneath Wünsdorf lies a massive underground military bunker complex.
The most famous bunkers are:
- Maybach I
- Maybach II
- Zeppelin.
What makes them especially fascinating:
The buildings above ground were deliberately designed to look like harmless country houses and farm buildings.
Hidden underneath them were:
- circular tunnel systems
- communication centers
- telecommunication facilities
- military command rooms.
From the outside, much of it looked almost ordinary.
Underground, war was being planned.
The Zeppelin bunker later became one of the Wehrmacht’s most advanced communication hubs. After the war, the Soviets continued using the facility and rebuilt parts of it for the Cold War.
And when you stand down there today, you only then begin to realize how gigantic this military site once must have been.
What Role Did Wünsdorf Play During the Cold War?
A massive one.
Wünsdorf was not just another military barracks.
This was the headquarters of the Soviet armed forces in Germany.
Military operations, communication systems and large parts of the Soviet presence in East Germany were coordinated from here.
In the middle of the forest south of Berlin, a military power center of the Eastern Bloc emerged.
And you can still feel that parallel-world atmosphere today.
While ordinary Brandenburg existed outside, a Soviet town operated behind the walls with:
- schools
- cultural centers
- shops
- cinemas
- military sports facilities
- its own infrastructure.
It almost sounds dystopian.
But it was reality.
If you’re generally interested in the history of Germany’s division, our blog about the Berlin U-Bahn or our blog about the Oberbaum Bridge are also worth reading.
Can You Visit Wünsdorf Today?
Yes.
But not completely freely.
Parts of the site can be visited through guided tours. There are also several legal tour options focused on:
- bunkers
- military history
- abandoned places
- photography.
Still, you should be aware of one thing:
Parts of the site are heavily damaged.
Everywhere you look:
- broken glass
- damaged staircases
- open shafts
- unsafe floors
- areas at risk of collapse.
And again:
This is not an active recommendation to enter the site.
Parts of the area are private property.
There are enough entrances out there already.
We probably don’t need to say much more than that.
But once you’ve seen the place yourself, you’ll understand why it has attracted people for years:
- urbex explorers
- photographers
- history enthusiasts
- graffiti artists
- fans of abandoned places.
You can easily spend two to three hours exploring the site.
And probably much longer if you’re taking photos.
Wünsdorf Today: A Book Town Instead of a Military Town
Today, Wünsdorf officially calls itself a “book town.”
Between antique bookstores, museums and quiet streets, very little at first glance reminds you of the former Soviet military headquarters.
And that’s exactly what makes the place feel so absurd.
Because beneath the forests, behind the old buildings and between the abandoned halls, there’s still a story hidden here that’s far bigger than most people realize.
Even the surrounding area has an incredible amount to explore — from bunkers and old barracks to mysterious tunnel entrances.
A story shaped by:
- war
- power
- control
- propaganda
- the military
- the Cold War
- and decay.
And if you’re looking for honest day trips around Berlin, our blog about Berlin for free or our blog about being a tourist in Berlin are also worth reading.
Because Berlin often starts exactly where normal travel guides end.
Most tourists in Berlin will never come here.
They’ll:
- stand at the TV Tower,
take photos at the Brandenburg Gate or the World Clock,
rush through Berlin Central Station trying to find their platform.
And meanwhile, south of Berlin, a former Soviet parallel city with bunkers, theater halls, swimming pools and a daily train connection to Moscow is slowly decaying.
The clock inside the bell tower there is still frozen at five to twelve to this day.
Berlin doesn’t end at the Ringbahn.
Sometimes, the most interesting stories only begin where almost nobody is looking anymore.
Berlin is not a tourist attraction. Berlin is a city.
See you in the honest Berlin — or here in the next blog.
Take care 🖤
MOST IMAGES IN THIS ARTICLE ARE SAMPLE IMAGES AND WERE NOT TAKEN AT THE PLACES FEATURED.
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