Bärenzwinger, Berlin

Bärenzwinger is a former bear enclosure whose brick building still contains three cages and service rooms, alongside two outdoor runs surrounded by water moats. The arrangement has changed very little since it was created. Before that, this site held a street-cleaning depot and a public toilet.

The bears arrived in 1939, but war killed all except Lotte, who later went to the zoo. After rebuilding, Nante and Jette arrived in November 1949 and became widely known. Jette produced 33 cubs, with Berlin children helping choose their names at public ceremonies.

Following the death of the last bear, the preserved structure became an art and learning venue. Since September 2017, it has operated as a municipal gallery presenting work about this place itself.