In Nauen, just a few kilometers west of Berlin, stands the world’s oldest continuously active radio transmitter. Built in 1906, the Nauen Radio Station impresses with its cathedral-like brick architecture and is still actively transmitting signals around the globe today.
Here, Brandenburg’s idyllic countryside meets pioneering work in telecommunications and a fascinating history that dates back to the German Empire. If the sight of a radio station from the Golden Twenties inevitably puts you in the mood for some good jazz, then stop by here!
The Nauen Major Radio Station: From the German Empire to a Modern Shortwave Hub
When Telefunken built the station on an open field over a century ago, it was ahigh-tech prestige project. Initially, the site was used solely for Morse telegraphy. Later, it was used to maintain contact with ships on the world’s oceans.
The iconic main building, completed in 1920 by architect Hermann Muthesius, draws everyone’s attention with its Expressionist brick facade. With its clean, symmetrical lines, the building resembles a sacred monument.
Huge rotating antennas in the Brandenburg wind
Today, four 80-meter-tall rotating masts rise into the sky above the fields. These structures, weighing several metric tons each, can rotate completely around their own axis. This allows them to transmit precise signals to every corner of the globe.
Today, the large radio station is operated by Media Broadcast and transmits international radio programs, among other things. A living piece of technological history that has never been shut down since it first went on the air in 1906.
Your Journey to the World’s Oldest Radio Station
Since this is a highly active operational site, you can usually only admire the architectural masterpiece and the array of antennas from the outside—but it’s definitely worth a detour for some impressive photos.
By car , youcan reach the entrance gate from downtown Berlin in just under 45 minutes via the B5. By public transit, take the RE2 or RB14 to the Nauen train station and then enjoy a leisurely 3-kilometer bike ride through the wide-open fields.
📍 Nauen Major Radio Station, Graf-Arco-Straße, 14641 Nauen
📆 Visible from the outside at any time (inside tours only on special event days)
⏳ About 1 hour (for a quick walkaround and photos)
💵 Free
