The Alps are located near Berlin — and by that we don’t mean the mountains on the border with Austria. The “Steinitz Alps” in southern Brandenburg are also worth a visit and can be reached much more quickly on a day trip. From here, you even have a real observation tower in the otherwise flat surrounding countryside ! The Steinitz Staircase on the outskirts of the village of Steinitz symbolizes the transformation of an entire region.
From Lignite to the Lookout Point
The history of this place is intertwined with Lusatian lignite. For where the observation tower stands today was originally flat land that was transformed into a chain of hills by the spoil heaps from the open-pit mine. After the excavators disappeared, a completely new landscape emerged here.
The Steinitzer Staircase was inaugurated in 2012 on the highest point of the so-called “Steinitzer Alps.” The aim was to give people in the region and visitors the opportunity to grasp the scale of mining while also appreciating the beauty of the newly emerging natural spaces. Architecturally, this steel structure is also quite impressive.
101 steps up
As a viewpoint, the Steinitzer Treppe towers 171 meters above the ground. If you climb the 101 steps, you can catch a glimpse of the outskirts of the active Welzow-Süd open-pit mine . And while this “lunar landscape” with conveyor bridges and massive steel machinery stretches out on one side, the complete opposite awaits you on the opposite side.
From here, you can look out over forests and young vineyards that have already been successfully recultivated. On a clear day, the panorama even extends as far as the Giant Mountains or the dome of Tropical Islands, 56 kilometers away.
From April to October, you can visit the 360-degree observation platform. An inclined elevator allows visitors with limited mobility and wheelchair users to enjoy the view as well. The panorama comes at a price: admission to the Steinitzer Treppe costs 2 euros.
