Down the Havel River near the shores of Wannsee Lake, there’s a mansion for sale on a sleepy island. But it’s not in some equatorial paradise. It’s just outside of Berlin, Germany, which regularly ranks among the top cities in the world for living. The 7.4-acre plot serves as an idyllic launch retreat from the German capital.
While much of the 32,000-square-foot undeveloped interior is currently used as tree plantation, the property on Schwanenwerder Island also includes a 24-bedroom villa located in one of the most exclusive residential neighborhoods in the Greater Berlin area. Stretched over 16,000 square feet, the villa boasts a stately entrance, an impressive dining hall, indoor pool, personal gym, and spacious rooms spread across three floors. Complementing the refined ambiance given off by the moldings and accents, this historic villa includes antiques and art, like murals and paintings, valued at millions of dollars.
The property’s biggest selling point is its location, which includes views of the Grunewald Tower and the Havel River. Surrounded by an expansive park on a small hill, the villa was nicknamed by the original owner “Tranquillitati” (translation: “dedicated to peace”), and serves as a true bubble of seclusion. At the home’s entrance, old staff quarters have been renovated into a multi-family home. Elsewhere on the lot, you’ll find a tennis court and outdoor pool. It also includes private beach access and its own dock.
Built in 1978, the home was designed in the style of a sophisticated country house by its former owner, publisher Axel Springer, of Die Welt fame. Prior to Springer, though, the Schwanenwerder home had a much darker history. Many of the city’s Jewish elite resided in the affluent neighborhood during the lead-up to World War II, and were eventually forced to sell their property to the Nazis (or were simply expelled). In the early ’30s, chief propagandist Joseph Goebbels called the island neighborhood home, and it also housed some SS operations. Naturally, at the height of the conflict, much of the island’s buildings were destroyed by Allied Forces. (Prewar buildings on the island are a rarity.)
This property has been listed by Sotheby’s with its price available upon request. Find more info on it here, but first, take a short visual tour of the property in the photos below.
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