Tränenpalast

The Palace of Tears: Where History Becomes Tangible

The Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears) is a former border crossing between East and West Berlin at Friedrichstraße station, which was in operation from 1962 to 1989. The name derives from the tearful farewells that took place in front of the building: between Western visitors and East German citizens who were not allowed to travel to the West. Anyone walking through the exhibition hall today immediately feels this weight. Across 550 square meters, the exhibition illustrates German-German history using over 550 objects and documents.

Inside the Tränenpalast itself, visitors can experience the original border clearance procedures and actually walk through the preserved passport control booth. The exhibition focuses on the personal stories of people who experienced the horrors of divided Germany firsthand. This makes the difference: here, GDR history is not an abstract chapter.

Permanent Exhibition in the Tränenpalast: Place of German Division

Through biographical examples and original objects, the permanent exhibition shows how the German division affected people’s lives and explores how people from the GDR managed to flee or emigrate to the West. It also highlights the most important stages in the reunification process. Thus, the exhibition creates a narrative arc that extends far beyond the place itself.

Since 2011, the Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland Foundation has operated the permanent exhibition “Tränenpalast. Place of German Division” in the now landmarked building. Admission is free. Regular public guided tours are available directly on site at Reichstagufer 17 in Berlin-Mitte. Anyone who wants to delve into German-German history cannot miss this place.