1 hour from Berlin to the “Gates of Heaven”: once one of Brandenburg’s most important religious centers – today the largest Santa Claus post office in Germany!

While the capital is in full swing with the Berlinale in just two days and is dressing up for the world’s biggest stars, outside Berlin’s gates there is still pure natural tranquility and decades of history. So if you want to get some fresh air, we have plenty of ideas for you: from Berlin’s most beautiful walking trail, like the Venetian shore, to Germany’s largest barn district, to a place that resembles a Nordic Interlaken. Here, the hustle and bustle of the big city has no chance – instead, you can immerse yourself in bygone eras, because each of these places tells its own special story. Another highlight you shouldn’t miss is a town that became so famous for its monastery that it was once called the “Gateway to Heaven. “ We’re talking about Himmelpfort, a district of Fürstenberg/Havel in Brandenburg, about 95 kilometers north of Berlin.

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The name of the place goes back to the former Cistercian convent of Himmelpfort, which was founded in 1299. It means “Gateway to Heaven” and thus corresponds to a typical naming pattern for medieval monasteries. To this day, this name shapes the spiritual and symbolic image of the place. The Cistercian convent, an order of nuns, was once an important religious, economic, and cultural center in the region. Agriculture, fishing, and forestry were among the monastery’s main activities. However, it was dissolved during the Reformation in the 16th century. As a result, parts of the buildings fell into disrepair or were used for other purposes. Today, remnants and traces of the monastery are still visible in the village, which are explained by information boards and small exhibitions on site.

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The famous Santa Claus Post Office has made Himmelpfort famous throughout Germany. Every year – usually from the end of November until shortly before Christmas – an official Santa Claus Post Office opens in Himmelpfort. Children from all over Germany and many other countries write to: “Santa Claus, 16798 Himmelpfort.” Volunteers, known as “Christmas angels, “ respond to the letters personally. Many children receive a loving reply with a real stamp from Himmelpfort.