Path of Visionaries, art installation in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany

The Path of Visionaries is a walk of fame and art installation in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg that stretches as a series of plaques along Friedrichstrasse. Each plaque displays a quotation from a thinker or leader from a different part of the world.

The installation was conceived by artist and dancer Bonger Voges, who wanted to reimagine the area around Mehringplatz. The project connects Berlin's history with global ideals and has received support from international institutions like UNESCO.

Each granite slab carries a quotation chosen by the country's embassy or culture ministry, inscribed in German, English and the national language, with a backlit flag element about 20 by 40 cm. A 40-member jury of academics, cultural figures and politicians judged the proposals on tolerance and international understanding. The slabs are laid in the order the states joined the EU.

The granite plaques lie in three rows in the pedestrian zone at the southern end of Friedrichstrasse, next to Mehringplatz, reachable by U1, U3 and U6 at Hallesches Tor. The installation is accessible around the clock. At dusk the flag elements set into each plaque light up.

The 33 granite plaques were laid in the order the countries joined the European Union, so walking the path follows the bloc's enlargement. Each plaque carries a backlit flag element about 20 by 40 cm that lights up at dusk. The sculptor Rainer Fest realised the installation from a graphic design by Daniela Haitzler and Marcel Fleiner.