Barfuß Park – Barefoot Park

Since we have a driver with a German license (me) and have several car share companies at our disposal, we have been taking weekend day trips outside of Berlin. In fact, frugal me was super happy when Sixt offered their car shares for €0.09/min, or only €5.40/hr. Which includes gas and insurance. What a steal.

Twice now, Ben and I have ventured an hour southwest of Berlin, past Potsdam, to Barfuß Park. Both times, we’ve met friends there. The second time, Dave and Isaac joined us.

Barfuß Park (which is exactly what it sounds like, a park where you walk around barefoot) is in Beelitz, which is known throughout Berlin for it’s Spargel, or white asparagus. Something Dave and I adore seeing on the menus in Berlin every spring and summer.

{Ready for Barefoot Park}

Next to the Barfuß Park is the Sanatorium Beelitz-Heilsatte. Built between 1898 and 1930, it was a place for the sick of Berlin, especially those with tuberculosis, to go for treatments.

(Hint: Open links in Google chrome for translation)

https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beelitz-Heilst%C3%A4tten

{Remains of the TB Sanitarium}

Both Adolf Hitler (during WWI) and Erich Honicker (GDR times) were patients here. (See end of post for more details.*)

{Three story boardwalk for viewing the ruins}

{View of the sanitarium ruins and the playground from the five story tower}

{Sanatorium ruins}

{Beginning of the Red Path}

At Barfuß Park, there are three paths where you can walk through gravel, glass, wet peak, pine cones and sand, amongst many other obstacles.

{Map of the paths at Barfuß park}

There are also climbing apparatus, birch and pine forests with disco balls, and other sensory stops that test your sense of touch and smell. And it’s wonderful!

{Walking through the path of glass}

{Stinky wet peat}

{Walking on coconuts for a foot massage}

{Incredible forests including a “mirror passage”}

{Climbing high}

{Labyrinth Teamwork}

{Hanging around}

{Soaring high}

The park has free lockers in which to stash your shoes as well as hoses and scrub brushes to clean away the grime.

It’s a pretty amazing place to go whether you have kids or not. We look forward to a return trip in the fall to enjoy the changing leaves. Perhaps you’d like to join us?

* From the Berliner Zeitung : https://mobil.berliner-zeitung.de/berlin/brandenburg/volksheilstaette-auch-adolf-hitler-und-erich-honecker-lagen-in-beelitz-29492926