After these diverse and emotive impressions, the route calms down a bit. It crosses the Schöneberg Volkspark (Peoples’ Park) and via the rather introspective and tranquil district of Friedenau reaches the Dahlem Domäne, an old feudal estate enclosing a village green. Here you can see sheep and goats grazing in spacious fields. There are also offers available here to make the very young visitor to Berlin happy, including healthy goodies from the ecological farm shop to top up energy levels! The route then continues via Zehlendorf on to the Wannseebrücke (Wannsee Bridge) at Nikolassee, where from the bridge there is an impressive view of the Großer and Kleiner Wannsee (Greater and Lesser Wannsee lakes), on whose waters in summer the trails of dozens of sailing boats criss-cross each other.
From this point there are two possibilities to reach Glienicker Bridge: the shorter route runs along Königsalle, while the longer (and more scenic) one goes via Pfaueninselchaussee and Berlin Mauerweg up to Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island). If you have some time to spare, you are strongly recommended to cross over to the island on the small ferry and discover a paradise of enchantment – peacocks turning wheels in all their majesty and plumery and the ruins of the small Friedrich Wilhem II castle picturesquely peering through green fields and trees.
Cycling along the water’s edge you finally reach your destination – Glienicker Bridge, the legendary symbol of the separation between East and West, that leads to Potsdam. This is the place where spies were exchanged and negotiations took place in the shadow of the Cold War – and not only in films and thriller novels, although of course there’s no sign of all that nowadays.
Glienicker Bridge is surely one of the most magnificent and beautiful spots in the whole of Berlin culminating as it does in the glittering lustre of the “five palaces view”: embedded in artistically designed parks the Glienicker summer palace, the small Sacrow palace, the white castle ruins on Pfaueninsel, Babelsberg castle and Glienicker hunting lodge reveal themselves to the amazed eyes of the visitor. This dazzling display is complemented by the clear view of the Jungfernsee (Maidens’ Lake), Glienicker Lake and Tiefer See (Deep Lake). This outstanding panorama provides the highlight and – at the same time – fitting finale of the Wannsee route.