Wolfswinkel paper mill

Dec 12, 201221 comments

MONSTROUS MARVELS

Monsters now call the abandoned paper factory of Wolfswinkel home, transforming it into a magical fantasy land only the intrepid dare enter.

Well, you could just ask at one of the businesses out the front if you can go in for a peak but where’s the fun in that?! Far better to sneak in as we did and have the wits scared out of you by the marvelous mystical creatures who have appropriated the crumbling buildings left over from a country that no longer exists.

I was thankful for the company on this occasion. Alone, I’m not sure I would have survived the experience. After squeezing in at the back beside the river through a loose fence we tiptoed into their lair, though we weren’t aware of their presence at the time. We stepped around the broken glass, careful not to make it crunch underfoot. Futile.

Then we saw them through a broken window, the first monsters, eating a rainbow. As monsters do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We proceeded, cautiously, perhaps foolishly. I peeked into a doorway that led into what most have once been a warehouse.

There we encountered the next one, standing with arms outstretched and head back in deep existentialist contemplation. How he could think at all is beyond me, for just a few short meters away was a strange bird-like creature playing guitar, with an even stranger being firing what looked suspiciously like an old blunderbuss into the air.

I was about to ask the strange-looking fella where he got it – they’re few and far between these days – but thought better of it. I wasn’t sure if he was shooting an accompanying beat to the music or warning shots to keep intruders away. Besides, the bird-like creature had a sharp-looking sword and more monsters were lurking nearby – one of them with an axe. I left them to their party.

We went on and found ourselves in a gathering on old redbrick buildings, their soft shades complemented beautifully by the encroaching moss and vegetation. If it’s not the monsters…

The outer buildings are in a sorry state, smashed and shorn of roofs allowing the elements wreak their thing. But the main one is still fairly sound, broken window panes notwithstanding, and it’s there that you get an appreciation of the factory’s former glory and its raison d’être. It’s also home to monsters. Loads of them.

The Wolfswinkel paper mill was the only in the area to produce handmade paper until the monsters took over in 1994. I’m not sure if they actually caused production to cease or some other terror brought about its demise.

Their timing is certainly suspicious.

Whatever was responsible, it ended a production line going back to 1751, when the Spechthausen paper mill began operation in Eberswalde. Friedrich II of Prussia, also known as Frederick the Great, gave Frenchman Jean Dubois the official seal of approval in 1781, and before you knew it – well, in 1799 – it was also producing banknotes and securities as well as the aforementioned hand-made paper.

From 1874 to 1945 it produced treasury notes and nearly all banknotes, letters of credit, checks, stocks and other other securities for the German Reich.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spechthausen provided the paper for Operation Bernhard, a dastardly plan hatched by the Nazis to destabilize the British economy during the war using forged banknotes made the master forger Adolf Burger in the nearby Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

I don’t think I’ve come across a plan more dastardly. Burger’s still on the go, 95 years young, and living in Prague. They made a fine film out of the whole thing called The Counterfeiters, Die Fälscher in German. And you thought this post was only about monsters.

Spechthausen, like pretty much everything, was gradually wound up after the war. The production of the handmade paper was transferred in 1956 to the Wolfswinkel plant, which had been in operation since 1765.

Wolfswinkel began production of the Spechthausen brand from August 1 the following year. The age-old traditional methods were retained and each sheet of paper still featured the famous “Spechthausen 1781” watermark comprising a woodpecker (Specht) and a tree.

I looked up the processes involved but they’re probably not worth getting into without risking boredom. We certainly don’t want that here. If you’re into the processes, you’ll be able to find out plenty somewhere else on the oul’ interweb I’m sure.

Of course, the Russians took over the original Spechthausen plant. It’s telling that the monsters waited until they were well gone before they even thought of moving in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOCATION AND ACCESS (HOW TO FIND GUIDE)

  • What: Papierfabrik Wolfswinkel-Spechthausen. Abandoned paper mill that once produced the famous Spechthausen handmade paper, a brand which went back to 1781 when Frederick the Great gave it his seal of approval. Since taken over by monsters.
  • Where: Wolfswinkel, 16227 Eberswalde. It’s on Eberswalder Straße, roughly number 33-34-35. Not sure which, but once you get there you can’t go wrong.
  • How to get there: Get the RE3 regional train in the direction of Stralsund to Eberswalde. It goes from both Berlin Hauptbahnhof and Gesundbrunnen, takes half an hour from the former, less from the latter. You can get the 861 bus from Eberswalde station to Finow, Wolfswinkel. Once you get there walk along the road until you see the gate with scarily accurate “End of Summer” sign. That’s what you’re looking for right there. You can also just cycle along in a westerly direction from the train station until you find it.
  • Getting in: As I mentioned earlier, you could just ask in front if you can go in for a gander. I don’t they’ll mind as long as you don’t look like you’re going to thrash the place. There are people living there (despite the monsters) and I’m sure they don’t want hordes of people poking around their stuff. Otherwise you can just sneak in around the side – watch out for yer man snoozing in his van – and snoop around without getting caught. More exciting.
  • When to go: Don’t go when it’s raining (as we did) or you’ll get soaked, especially if you cycle (as I did). Best to go during the day. I don’t think this is a party venue, unless you ask the folks out front and they’re more obliging than I thought.
  • Difficulty rating: 5/10. Quite easy, both getting to it and in.
  • Who to bring: Someone who’s not afraid of monsters.
  • What to bring: Bring a torch, a camera and a couple of beers. Something to eat would be good too. I didn’t, and was flippin’ ravenous by the time I got back to the train station. I’m getting hungry again just thinking of it now.
  • Dangers: Nothing major to worry about. You always need to take a certain amount of care in these places in case a roof lands on your head but this was one of the more structurally sound structures I’ve been in. Of course, there’s always the little matter of the monsters.

    TAKEN OVER BY MONSTERS

    Kraftwerk Vogelsang

    Kraftwerk Vogelsang

    Kraftwerk Vogelsang is a powerless power plant. People gave their lives building it and fighting over it. Now that they’re gone, nobody wants it at all.

    Underberg

    Underberg

    Security was tight in the Underberg herbal rotgut distillery as they thought only five humans knew the secret recipe. Now the secret’s out.

    Tetra Pak

    Tetra Pak

    Glass milk bottles are rejoicing with schadenfreude after learning of Tetra Pak’s fate. The packaging giant abandoned its factory in Heiligensee in 2013.

    21 Comments

    1. Flavien

      Great blog ! I like the way you write. Keep rolling !

      Reply
    2. Nat

      Is that me or it looks like the monsters in “Where the Wild Things Are”? Great pictures of course 🙂

      Reply
    3. Spudnik

      Hey Nat, I wasn’t familiar with that book but it looks intriguing. The monsters look good too! But the Wolfswinkel monsters are very much their own monsters. I hope for your sake they’re not offended by the comparison. 😉

      Reply
    4. Laura

      Great place! I went there 2 months ago and I can say it’s amazing 🙂 We had so much fun chasing monsters!

      And yes, it would be nice if you go and say HI to the people living in the vans. There are some dogs and they can get really nervous…

      Reply
    5. Laura

      And hey! I love your blog! I always check it to see my next photo-expedition ;D Thank you!

      Reply
    6. Anonymous

      Was there yesterday, was quite creepy but cool. A few people around so be careful. The place is in bad shape so be careful where you step. It alot easier to get in if you go around through the car park then walk to the river and then just go left. No need to jump any fences or anything. Keep up the good work!!

      Reply
    7. Anonymous

      Was there recently. Really cool place but a lot of old people with their professional-looking cameras taking pictures.
      In agreement with the comment above, the place is in bad shape. While walking through one of the formally covered areas, a large piece of the wooden roof beams collapsed and crashed onto the ground about 2 meters away from us.
      After about an hour or so we were caught by security who said the photographers were there with special permission from the owner. It was unclear whether they had paid to enter or not. Security was nice and simply asked us to leave.

      Reply
    8. Spudnik

      As I wrote above, “you could just ask in front if you can go in for a gander. I don’t they’ll mind as long as you don’t look like you’re going to thrash the place.”
      There’s no “security” as such. Just people with an interest in making sure the place isn’t thrashed by vandals. The other photographers you saw probably just asked on their way in.

      Reply
    9. Anonymous

      I’m on the train back to Berlin with a friend, fist time there. The place is in bad shape, just as expected! Getting in is kind of easy if you don’t mind getting caught and just walk from the main entrance, which is a bad idea in my opinion. There’s people living in the houses nearby and a shepard on the left.. And everyone have dogs. You don’t want to disturb them. We walked through the marsh-like undergrowth and then the small wood and reached the river. There we found a number of roulottes. People established there. Its unclear what kind of people they are but they have dogs too, many, and leave them unleashed. So beware: they act as guard dogs for their houses. I almost found myself in a bad situation when a mutt wolf dog heard me, smelled me and ran to me barking. Then its owner called it back because of the barking – she didn’t see me. I’m left to wonder what could have happened if she didn’t. So once again, beware. That said the place is AMAZING!!! It’s worth a full day. Lots of pictures to take, wonderful graffiti, beautiful textures. Peace. Guido

      Reply
    10. Anonymous

      Does anyone know how this place is looking now/how easy it is to get in? Thinking about going in the next few days!

      Reply
    11. Anonymous

      Absolutely brilliant! Loved it!
      Does anybody know the name of the artist? I saw his work appear in Krampnitz too….

      Reply
    12. Anonymous

      Found it – Kim Köster. Hero! 🙂

      Reply
    13. Anonymous

      Hello. Was someone there recently and can tell how it is there now? I would like to go straight up to security or so to ask to get in. Would be nice if someone can share some infos from after well, August 2014 🙂 thanks

      Reply
    14. Unknown

      Went there 2 weeks ago, didnt saw security. ANyway, try to avoid enter front. Keep quiet, and all will be fine
      Monster are still there. Acces to the tower is now very hard/dangerous.

      Some picts here : flickr.com/photos/mrgoodpicts/sets/72157650741418580/

      Reply
    15. Anonymous

      Were there two weeks ago. Although we visited only few buildings, we were totally amazed by this place! And monsters are really great. I don’t know if some security is here – we saw man with dog from the window, but he only went along, and didn’t checked place.
      I spent some time in Berlin, and thanks this blog, I could get to really great places (not many, but each worth to see). Thanks! Greeting from Czech:)

      Reply
    16. Anonymous

      A friend of mine went there this past weekend, here is a summary of his thoughts and experience:
      -If you have the legs, get there by bicycle, it’s a beautyful ride.
      -Don’t charge up front, it’s fenced, eintritt-verbotened, guarded by suspicious neighbours who will enquire about you intentions even when you are still on the right side of the fence and security cameras
      -There are other ways to get in, including my personal favourite (that I still have to try) aka the amphibious assault, for those of you who have an inflatable SUP/orcae/whatever
      -Monsters are still there and will play any kind of dirty prank to scare the hell out of you
      -Irish Berliner: where did you spot the rainbow spitting monster, I was looking for him but he was nowhere to be found, most likely playing hide and seek with guitar monster that I also missed

      Reply
    17. Marc

      as I was in the neighbourhood yesterday, tried to get into the building complex, but did not succeed. Spoke with a guy who just arrived to park his motorbike in 1 of the buildings. According to him, site has been sold to different investors.Some have installed alarm systems in recent months. So..I didn’t take the risk. I must admit I did not try to sneak in from behind (riverside)..was still very humid and wet from the recent rains…

      Reply
    18. Anonymous

      Hi! Any person go into of this place recentely?

      Sorry for my english! THANK SO MUCH FOR THIS BLOG… IT´S WONDERFUL!

      Reply
    19. Anonymous

      went there last weekend and the place was crowded with people cleaning/working on the area. Got kicked out by one of the owners 2min after entering the complex. She was nice but determined to make me leave. I could catch that they are planing to open it in the future for the public, before they made me leave.

      Reply
    20. Kathy

      I am transcribing an account of her childhood that my grandmother wrote 30 years ago and discovered this post when I googled Wolfswinkel. My great great grandfather owned the paper factory in what must have been the 1850s or 1860s and built a grand house there surrounded by gardens. I’m assuming the house is long gone, though I have pictures of it from my grandmother’s childhood. I would love to know more about its history. And what is happening with it now?

      Reply
    21. Marcus

      Closed now and guarded by a guy with a dog who threatened to call the police. He only let us go after a discussion about the police (he refused to wait 45 minutes with us until they arrived and feared they would “do nothing”. Took a picture of us and said if he ever saw us again… bla bla and so on. New gates have been installed and video surveillance seems to be in action. Really sad, visited this place in 2016 when it was easy to enter. Wonderful street art is now lost!

      Reply

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