Archenhold-Sternwarte

About the museum

The observatory grew out of the Berlin Trade Exhibition of 1896. The astronomer Friedrich Simon Archenhold had been planning a huge refracting telescope since 1893, and it was shown in Treptower Park as an attraction of the exhibition. Because it was only ready for operation in the autumn of 1896, the revenue needed for the planned dismantling was missing; the city left the instrument standing, and Archenhold continued to run it as a public observatory together with an association. With its focal length of 21 meters, the telescope is still regarded as the longest fully movable refracting telescope in the world.

The original wooden building around the telescope could be replaced by a neoclassical new building by Konrad Reimer and Friedrich Körte, which opened in April 1909. In the large lecture hall, Albert Einstein spoke publicly about the general theory of relativity for the first time on 2 June 1915. Archenhold's son Günter, who had headed the house since 1931, had to give up his post in 1936 because of his Jewish descent. The family was driven out of the observatory; several relatives became victims of Nazi persecution. Since 1946 the house has borne the name of its founder.

During the GDR era, a small planetarium and further observation buildings were added on the grounds; the giant telescope was refurbished between 1977 and 1983 and was then back in operation until 2023. Since then it has had to pause again because of technical damage. In 2002 the observatory passed to the Stiftung Deutsches Technikmuseum, and since 2016 it has belonged to the Stiftung Planetarium Berlin. From 2021 the facade was restored to its 1909 condition, and since 2023 Stolpersteine in front of the entrance have commemorated the Archenhold family. In its permanent exhibition, the Museum zur Himmelskunde shows the development of astronomy from Stonehenge to space astronomy.

Highlights

• Treptow giant telescope from 1896 with a focal length of 21 meters
• Historic Einstein Hall
• Museum zur Himmelskunde with a meteorite piece (283.5 kg) from Barringer Crater that visitors can touch
• Small planetarium with 42 seats
• Historic instruments and telescopes on the outdoor grounds

Permanent exhibition

• Museum zur Himmelskunde – The permanent exhibition traces the development from early sky observation to space astronomy and shows historical measuring instruments, a model of the Treptow giant telescope, a meteorite piece from Arizona and the history of the observatory.

Founded

1896

Operated by

Stiftung Planetarium Berlin

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the Museum zur Himmelskunde is free. The prices €12 and €8 apply to guided tours, observations, lectures and planetarium programs; other prices may apply at special events. Free admission is also granted to, among others, press representatives, staff of planetariums, observatories and museums, and members of ICOM and the Deutscher Museumsbund.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum and the Einstein Hall are wheelchair-accessible, but the listed building is in large parts not barrier-free. Wheelchair-accessible entrance to the right of the main entrance (single-leaf door without automatic opener); an elevator (90 cm door width) leads to the second floor and the planetarium. The third floor, with the library and roof, and the outdoor areas are not barrier-free; there are no wheelchair-accessible toilets or changing rooms. Wheelchair spaces for events can only be reserved at the box office or by e-mail.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities: not available
• Kids’ birthday parties: not available

Children of all ages are welcome; there are events in the Children & Family category and a family ticket. In the museum, interactive experiments and a touchable meteorite piece invite visitors to try things out. Children's birthday parties are currently not offered.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Coat check
• Lockers

Cloakroom free of charge; lockers against a key deposit of €1 or €2.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

The Stiftung Planetarium Berlin rents out its venues, including the observatory, for corporate events with 20 to 400 people; inquiries to events@planetarium.berlin.

Plan your visit