Is it just me, or does this milestone seem to have a story etched into its very sandstone? This is the II Meile von Berlin. It is a decorative milestone near Charlottenburg Palace. The II Meile von Berlin stands as a testament to Berlin’s evolving identity.
The II Meile von Berlin consists of a column on a base. Both are made of sandstone. A gilded sphere with a point crowns the column. An iron plate adorns the column. It bears the inscription “I Meile von Berlin”. This indicates the distance to Dönhoffplatz. The reference point of the mileage measurement was there. Today, there is a replica. The II Meile von Berlin is a listed building under number 09096438.
Its current location is at the intersection of Spandauer Damm and Nithackstraße. It sits on the property of the former Marstall building. Originally, the II Meile von Berlin stood on the roadway. It was opposite Luisenplatz.
The exact year of its first placement remains unclear. Often, it is linked to the construction of the road. This road connected the Brandenburg Gate and Charlottenburg Palace in 1798. However, milestone researcher Herbert Liman disagrees. He cites a survey report from October 1800. This report makes no mention of a milestone at that location. The existing version has a spherical crown. It stylistically points to classicism. The obelisk type was the standard form for Prussian milestones until the first third of the 19th century. It was still clearly influenced by the Rococo style. The monument list dates its execution to 1842. It attributes the design to Friedrich August Stüler. He became the architect of King Friedrich Wilhelm IV in that year.
The II Meile von Berlin has been moved several times. One relocation occurred during the kilometration of the road. At the turn of the year 1868/1869, the metric system was introduced. Consequently, the road administration converted milestones into kilometer stones. The spherical milestone from Luisenplatz was dismantled. It was re-erected as a 10 km stone near Ruhleben Castle. The mileage information on the column was removed.
Emperor Wilhelm I missed the striking column. He ordered its return in a cabinet order on July 13, 1875. The order stated that the milestone had been removed. However, it held various memories. The same stone should be erected again.
The Kugelsäule returned to Luisenplatz. It received the plate with the inscription “Eine Meile von Berlin”. Since then, the milestone has been documented. It appears in images, drawings, and city maps. These show its position on the edge of Luisenplatz. It aligns with Nithackstraße and the New Palace Wing.
Around 1905, it was moved again to its current location. The reason was likely the erection of the monument for Emperor Friedrich III. Alternatively, it could have been a simultaneous street widening.
From a monument preservation perspective, the current location is disadvantageous. The column is in the core shadow of the Marstall building and adjacent street trees. Constant moisture and lack of UV light promote algae growth. This causes the blackening of the monument. The shady, poorly visible location does not reflect the original design. The Kaiser Friedrich Monument no longer exists on Luisenplatz. Therefore, a relocation as part of a renovation is conceivable.
The six-meter-high milestone is made of sandstone. It features a gilded sphere and metal tip. The inscription states: “1 Meile von Berlin”. One mile equals 7.5342 km. The distance to the Berlin City Palace is indicated. Pedestrians knew they had about two hours to walk to Berlin. The existence of this Charlottenburg milestone is proven from 1846. It served as a model for other milestones. It may date back to 1798. At that time, the road between the Brandenburg Gate and Charlottenburg Palace was built. Queen Luise supposedly requested its placement. It would be directly in front of her window in Charlottenburg Palace. In 1905, it was moved to its current location. It is on the sidewalk in front of the former Marstall building. The golden sphere was restored in 1990. The II Meile von Berlin is more than just a marker. It’s a silent witness to Berlin’s transformations.