Stralau peninsula

The cradle of German yachting

An idyllic day out in Berlin? Just take your picnic basket to the Stralau peninsula, where there are secluded spots and sailing boats galore.

The riverside path takes you almost three kilometres around the Stralau peninsula. Past homemade houseboats, banks in the reeds, lush green meadows, shady chestnut trees and small harbours with rocking sailing boats. The water of the Spree and Rummelsburger See glistens in the sun. On the north side, the view falls to the boys' houses of Rummelsburg Bay. On the south side, you will discover the Island of Youth, the Ferris wheel in Spreepark and the expansive Treptower Park. Here, Berlin - and the Friedrichshain district - can be quite idyllic.

Stralau: from fishing island to water town

Half a tonne of beer and a simple meal - that's the compensation for the fishermen. Beforehand, according to custom, they hand over the catches from their fishing trip to the priest. It is 24 August, St Bartholomew's Day, the day of fishing, when the closed season for fish ends, as it does every year. This is how the tradition of the Stralau fish procession began in 1574, which 300 years later had grown into a popular festival with 70,000 visitors. Then, in 1873, the fish procession was banned - due to excessive partying. Since then, things have become quieter on the Stralau peninsula.

However, water sports enthusiasts still have the island in their grip. in 1830, the first society for the promotion of sporting sailing was founded in Stralau and numerous sailing clubs came together here until the 1860s. Stralau and Rummelsburg Bay are therefore considered the cradle of German sailing. Even today, dinghies pass by the shores when the wind is favourable.

At the end of the 19th century, a number of industrial plants were built on the peninsula, including carpet, bottle and palm kernel oil factories, breweries and boatyards. But they have long since closed again. Old industrial monuments remind us of their history. Since the turn of the millennium, Stralau has been redeveloped into a water town, with offices and beautiful housing estates.

The sights on the Stralau peninsula

The oldest building on the island is located on the riverside path: the Stralau village church, consecrated in 1464, where you can admire the remains of late Gothic stained glass. But watch out! The church tower has been damaged several times by storms and lightning strikes and leans almost five degrees to one side.

The palm kernel oil store was built in 1883-85 in the Wilhelminian style. As the name suggests, the factory was used to extract oil from palm kernels, for example for the production of margarine. Today, ships anchor in front of the building and anglers try their luck. The bottle tower and the Stralau glassworks are also reminders of the industrial history. Where beer, seltzer and champagne bottles were once bottled, Berliners have now found a new place to live.

How to get to the Stralau peninsula

You can reach the Stralau peninsula from Ostkreuz, Rummelsburg or Treptower Park railway stations. The riverside path is popular with walkers, dog owners and joggers - all at leisure.

From the peninsula to the neighbourhood

You will meet many walkers and joggers on Alt-Stralau. If you cross the Markgrafendamm from the peninsula, you will reach the almost undiscovered Rudolfkiez neighbourhood with its small bars and shops.