Rathaus Schöneberg

Rathaus Schöneberg stands as a landmark of Berlin’s divided past. During the Cold War, this district town hall served as the main seat of government for West Berlin. The building and its square became a public stage for speeches, rallies, and moments that shaped the city’s identity. Many Berliners, especially those from the former West, still view it as a place of strong emotion and memory.

Symbols of freedom and remembrance

A large Freedom Bell hangs in the tower, a gift from the people of the United States. It was dedicated to the idea of democracy and rang out as a message of solidarity during years of political tension. Around the site, memorials from the Cold War era mark the struggles and hopes of the period, inviting quiet reflection on how the city endured division.

Historic words from the balcony

The main balcony of Rathaus Schöneberg is where U.S. President John F. Kennedy addressed Berliners in 1963. His words—“All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin, and, therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words ‘Ich bin ein Berliner!’”—echoed across the square and far beyond. The statement became one of the defining messages of the Cold War, linking global ideas of freedom with the daily lives of people in Berlin.

Moments at the edge of change

On 10 November 1989, the day after the Berlin Wall opened, Chancellor Helmut Kohl and former Chancellor and Berlin mayor Willy Brandt appeared at the town hall. They greeted cheering crowds as a long period of division came to an end. The scene at Rathaus Schöneberg captured the mix of relief, celebration, and disbelief that spread through the city at that historic turning point.