Postfuhramt

This beautiful building on the street corner is Postfuhramt, the former postal office. It’s a rather big structure, with its octagonal tower accompanied by two small domes and a stunning neo-Renaissance architectural style. Yet, few people know its story or even its name. Finished in 1881, the Postfuhramt was once one of Berlin’s largest and most elaborate government buildings. It served as a postal sorting center as well as housing stables and living quarters for employees. The inner courtyard was immense, as it could accommodate up to 250 horses! If you’re wondering why a post office would need stables, remember that mail was once delivered by horse! The façade is worth your time, so take a look. You’ll see terracotta bas-reliefs depicting historical figures, like Christopher Columbus, Marco Polo, Johannes Gutenberg, Benjamin Franklin, and Herodotus. Try and spot them! Little hint: they’re arranged in chronological order. When postal services were modernised, the building’s importance gradually declined to finally close in the 90s. In the early 2000s, this protected historical monument was briefly integrated into Berlin’s cultural scene where it hosted events and exhibitions. In 2001, people paid homage to the building’s postal history by covering the entire façade in love letters.
Sadly, this artistic revival was short-lived, and in 2012, the building was sold to a major medical technology company, which has decided to remain quiet about its future plans for the site. Now, continue a few more meters to reach our next point of interest.