Berlin is also known as the "Queer Capital of Europe" and has had a very active gay and lesbian community since the 19th century. On this tour, you will learn about the history of this community and the challenges it faced - especially during the Third Reich - for the promotion of their rights.
- Visit highlights including the gay neighborhood of Schöneberg, Kreuzberg and Tiergarten
- Learn about the history and representatives of Berlin's gay and lesbian community including the actress Marlene Dietrich, Nazi SA leader Ernst Röhm, sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld and the openly gay mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit
- English speaking tour guide
| Included | 4-hour guided walking tour, professional guide |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 Hours |
| Bring along | AB day pass for public transport Weather-appropriate clothing Comfortable shoes |
Further information
Berlin's gay and lesbian community has had a long and somewhat troubled history especially during the Third Reich and the implementation of Section 175 in the German penal code which criminalized male homosexuality. From the enlightened King Frederick the Great in the 18th century to today's openly gay mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit, you will learn how Berlin was shaped to become the "queer capital of Europe".
The tour will explore the gay neighborhood of Schöneberg, where the famous German-American actress Marlene Dietrich became a representative of Berlin's popular culture in the "Golden Twenties". Visit Eldorado, one of the oldest gay and transvestite bars in the city which was popular with the homosexual Nazi SA leader Ernst Röhm before 1934.
There is also a memorial for homosexuals who were persecuted by the Nazis and made to wear pink triangles which symbolised sexual offenders during the Third Reich. Find out more about the physician and sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld who was a vocal advocate for sexual minorities and founded the Institute for Sexual Science which was shut down by the Nazis in 1933 and many of his works burned.
You will also walk through the Tiergarten which is the city's best known gay meeting spot near the Berlin Wall before finishing the tour at the Gay Museum in the Kreuzberg District.
