Kleiner Teufelssee

Beneath the gaze of the Müggelturm, nestled quietly, lies the Kleiner Teufelssee. It’s a small, almost unassuming body of water. Yet, the Kleiner Teufelssee holds secrets whispered on the wind rustling through the reeds. The Kleiner Teufelssee sits at the foot of the Kleinen Müggelberg, about 750 meters south of the Großer Müggelsee in the Köpenicker Bürgerheide. This shallow, nutrient-rich lake, measuring a mere 150 meters by 100 meters, is more than just a pretty sight. It’s a relic of the last ice age, a Hochmoor, carved out by the swirling meltwater of retreating glaciers. Today, a three-kilometer nature trail maintained by the Waldschule Teufelssee, winds around the Kleiner Teufelssee. Wooden boardwalks protect visitors from the sometimes-marshy ground. They offer a close-up view of rare plants like water lilies, water hemlock, and sundew. The Kleiner Teufelssee isn’t alone. A larger namesake, the Teufelssee, exists in Grunewald. A smaller one can be found in Spandau. But our Kleiner Teufelssee, cradled in the Bürgerheide, holds a unique charm. The air here hums with more than just the buzz of insects. Local legends swirl around the Kleiner Teufelssee like morning mist. One whispers of a devil’s altar that once stood on its shores. Another speaks of a vanished princess and her magnificent castle, swallowed by the moor. Author Inge Kiessig recounts the tale of the “Prinzessinnenstein”, a large stone that once marked the spot where the castle stood. The princess, cursed, sank beneath the waters with her palace, only occasionally resurfacing. More recently, in the days of the GDR, the Kleiner Teufelssee echoed with the laughter of children at a holiday camp located on its shores. In 2015, a new 300-meter boardwalk was inaugurated, connecting the moor and the Kleiner Teufelssee. A testament to the ongoing efforts to preserve this precious natural space. As you stand by the Kleiner Teufelssee, close your eyes. Breathe in the fresh air, scented with pine and damp earth. Listen to the whispers of history and legend carried on the breeze. Imagine the princess, her castle shimmering beneath the water. Feel the chill of the glacial meltwater that carved this landscape centuries ago. The Kleiner Teufelssee, small but mighty, a hidden gem in Berlin’s crown.