Fliegeberg, Historical aviation test site in Lichterfelde, Germany.
Fliegeberg is an artificial hill in the Berlin district of Lichterfelde, topped with a circular pavilion and a bronze globe. The hill sits within a small green area crisscrossed by footpaths that lead all the way to the summit.
Otto Lilienthal had the hill built in 1894 so he could conduct glider tests on the otherwise flat land around Berlin. After his death in 1896, the site was gradually turned into a public memorial space.
The hill takes its name from the German word for flying, reflecting its original purpose as a launch site. Today people come to walk up, enjoy the open view from the top, and read about what happened here.
The hill is easy to reach by public transport and paths lead to the top without major obstacles. Sturdy shoes are a good idea since parts of the climb are fairly steep.
Lilienthal made over a thousand glider flights from this hill before a fatal crash ended his work. The bronze globe now standing on top was only placed there in 1932, more than three decades after his death.
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