In Berlin-Pankow, more precisely at Beuthstraße 6/7, near Brosepark, stands an increasingly dilapidated building with a long history. An iconic location among the city’s lost places, as Berlin has many of them – from former high-security laboratories and former NSA listening stations to forbidden cities close to the city. There’s plenty for the adventurous to choose from, and now we have a very special destination: the former Bulgarian consulate. During the GDR era, it officially served diplomatic and consular purposes, such as promoting foreign trade and looking after Bulgarian citizens in the GDR. However, it also fulfilled another important function, which earned today’s “ghost consulate” its reputation.
The function of the consulate and its secret tunnel
In addition to its well-known functions, the Bulgarian consulate was also used for top-secret purposes that were unknown at the time. In close cooperation with the Ministry for State Security (MfS, the Stasi), GDR citizens were monitored in order to prevent escape attempts.
And how was this surveillance carried out? Through a secret tunnel that was surprisingly discovered only two years ago, in 2023, by an urban explorer. While exploring the abandoned building, he discovered a miniature door in a basement room, equipped with a fireplace and ornate ceiling elements, which led into a concrete tube. This tube turned out to be a crawl tunnel, just big enough for an adult to crawl through on all fours. It can be assumed that no one had gone in there for over 30 years.
The secret tunnel led to a brick-built shaft with ladder rungs, through which a metal flap allowed access to the outside – directly into Bosepark. From there, it was possible to secretly observe the streets, paths and surroundings. It was thus possible to enter and leave the consulate quickly and inconspicuously without attracting public attention. Cameras or binoculars could also be set up through the tunnel without endangering the consulate’s façade. Observation data on GDR citizens with escape plans could thus be reported directly back to the consulate or forwarded to the MfS.
Current function and use
Since the 1980s, there has been a new Bulgarian consulate in Berlin at Mauerstraße 11 in the Mitte district. The former consulate, however, has remained a ghost house that is increasingly falling into disrepair. Covering an area of around 2,960 square meters, it has been a listed building since 2014. Despite its location in a quiet residential area, the building remains unused, with no plans for renovation or use. The architecture is characterized by decay and vandalism and is considered at risk of collapse. The property remains a relic from the Cold War era and a significant example of the history of GDR diplomacy. It is owned by the Republic of Bulgaria and may not be entered.