Free Walking Tour Berlin

When: Every day 10am & 12pm every day
Where: The meeting point is in front of the ehemaliges Kaiserliches Postfuhramt Berlin, Oranienburger Straße, 10117 Berlin, Germany, next to the entrance.
Price: Free

Discovering Berlin’s Fascinating Medical History

by | Oct 22, 2024 | Original Berlin

Welcome to Berlin, a city with a rich medical heritage that has shaped its present. If you’re a history enthusiast or simply curious about how medical practices have evolved over time, join us for a captivating walking tour of Berlin’s historic hospitals. During this tour, you’ll learn about the groundbreaking discoveries, innovations, and challenges faced by medical professionals throughout the centuries.

Hospital Charité: The Birthplace of Modern Medicine

It starts at the site of one of the oldest hospitals in Europe Charité. Founded in the late XVII century in1710 Charité is an important reference point of the modern medicine. Among them, it is home to the largest medical school in the world and has seen millions of medical advancements.

As you stroll through the hospital, you will learn more about such personalities as Rudolf Virchow – founder of the scientific approach to pathology and Robert Koch – the founder of microbiology. Discover the science behind research that helped advance knowledge about diseases and their treatment.

Tips for Visitors:

Dress casually and be sure to wear comfortable shoes as you will be in need to a lot of walking.

It is recommended to hire a guide to really appreciate current changes and comprehensively enjoy the trip.

You should not miss visiting the Charité Medical Museum with unusual and interesting medical exhibits.

Comfortable shoes should be worn because a good portion of the trip requires walking.

It may be useful to go with a guided tour in order not to miss many fascinating sites and get additional information.

Of course, do not miss the Charité Medical Museum, there are many interesting medical exhibits there.

Urban Legend: The Heilstätten of BeelitzcompanyId: The Haunted Beelitz-Heilstätten

If you have backed up for an exciting experience, then you should not miss the Beelitz-Heilstätten. This area for sanatoriums, which is situated not very far from the country’s capital, Berlin, has a creepy history.

At first constructed for providing appropriate treatment to individuals suffering from tuberculosis, Beelitz-Heilstätten made a change and became highly valuable during the Great War. It also cared for a young Adolf Hitler after he was wounded in the Jaw during World War I Somme in 1916.

Even though Beelitz-Heilstätten is steeped in history, the location started experiencing its downfall post the World War II. Some sections of the complex have been shut down currently and are suspected to be the abode of ghosts. Visiting this site fills one with the real feel of the past and alerts the professional health care practitioners of what their counterparts went through back in the past.

Tips for Visitors:

And for those only related to Beelitz-Heilstätten note that it is not in Berlin proper so plan accordingly.

Take a digital camera to take pictures of the gloomy structures of the houses and buildings.

If you are in photography, it is advised to go for the guided photography tour to enrich your tour.

This is not within the main city of Berlin so please plan for the journey well in advance.

Take a camera to shoot the stunning look of the dilapidated structures.

For photography lovers, it is advised to go for guiding photography tour to grasp the maximum benefit out of it.

Uncovering Medical Innovations: Robert Koch Institute

The next destination on our list is the Robert Koch Institute – this institution is named after the famous scientist Robert Koch. This institution focuses on the study of Epidemiological Infectious Diseases and the prevention of they occurrence.

When visiting the institute, you get to familiarize yourself with the great discovery of Robert Koch in the fight against diseases. He identified the bacterium that causes tuberculosis and made the postulates that could be used to prove that but a microbe is responsible for a particular disease.

Find out about current developments in medicine, current research, and measures assumed to treat dominant diseases at the Robert Koch Institute.

Tips for Visitors:

Go through the institute’s website and look for any guided tours or public lectures which would be of interest to you it can be anything related to medical research.

(Do not feel shy and reserved to inquire during the visit). The qualified staff of the Robert Koch Institute possesses substantial knowledge and enthusiasm about their occupation.

One must seize the chance to get acquainted with studies performed by the institute in the sphere of the pandemic, including the current works on COVID-19.

Visit the institute’s web site to verify its hosted tour services or search for the upcoming public lectures on the subject of medical research.

It’s perfectly alright to break the silence with questions being asked during a visit. The members of staff employed at the Robert Koch Institute are well informed and dedicated.

It is a good chance to know more about how the institute has been dealing with pandemics, for instance Research on Covid 19.

Inspiring Hope: Benjamin Franklin University Hospital Burden:

The last place as a part of this truly inspirational tour is the Benjamin Franklin University Hospital, the institution famous for its IT focus on the advanced treatment of patients.

When you roam the hospital, you are going to be exposed to friendly nature of doctors and the strategies that they use in order to enhance the wellbeing of their clients. Benjamin Franklin University Hospital showcases a range of modern medical technological mechanisms ranging from the robotic surgeries to such sophisticated imaging as the MRI scan.

Also, it is associated with the leading medical school which for students and professionals opens a great potential for cooperation and enhancing the education process.

Tips for Visitors:

For a more detailed look at the hospital visit the place during open days or any other event taking place in the hospital.

You may want to walk with your children towards the hospital and seek their permission to ask from the management if they can provide a tour of the hospital or a briefing on what it does.

Before visiting the health facility respect the privacy of the patients and the needs of the staffs.

It is better to organise your visit during the open day or during some event to take a better look at the hospitals.

It may also be wise to contact the hospital management to inquire whether the hospital avails tours or does informational sessions.

The patients and the staff should be respected while they are being treated or while the house is being visited.

Starting with this Berlin self-guided historic hospitals walking tour will not only help you gain a closer look into the city’s medical past but you will also get an idea of how much the field has advanced. Each of the hospitals is a product of centuries of growth, development and progressive development of the establishment that it is today; from venerable institutions to modern thoroughbreds, every one has its own contribution to make through the dedication and hard work of the people involved in its administration. Therefore, grab your comfortable shoes, a camera, and let us start to trace and discover medical history of Berlin!

Thank you for reading. If you're inspired by the stories of Berlin and want to delve deeper, why not join us on our Free Berlin Walking Tour? It's a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the city's rich history and vibrant culture. We look forward to welcoming you soon.

WHAT TO EXPECT

  • 3.5 hours walking tour
  • Berlin’s major highlights
  • Brandenburg Gate
  • Reichstag and Berlin Wall
  • Historical sites

Free Walking Tour Berlin

When: Every day 10am & 12pm every day
Where: The meeting point is in front of the ehemaliges Kaiserliches Postfuhramt Berlin, Oranienburger Straße, 10117 Berlin, Germany, next to the entrance.
Price: Free