Maulbeerbaum, Blumenuhr & Postmeilensäule

The over 270-year-old mulberry tree dates from the times of Old Fritz and the internal colonisation in the time of Frederick the Great. In 1752, on the orders of Frederick II, a plantation of 1,500 mulberry trees was created for the breeding of silkworms in Erkner. The plantation was in what is now the centre of Erkner. The aim was to reduce the area’s dependency on imported silk. However, the trees did not grow well and the attempt failed. The battles and passage of troops during the Seven-Year War also played their part in this.

The entire plantation was destroyed and later sold as building land. Only the tree on the corner of Friedrichstrasse and Wollankstrasse remained. Filled with the energy to survive, it also lived through the air raid of 8 March 1944 which destroyed much of the town centre of Erkner. The tree has thus been around for most of the development of Erkner and has become one of the town’s landmarks. A stylised mulberry tree, with roots, green leaves and two white fruits, has adorned the town’s coat of arms since 1992.

Since 2003, there has been a giant flower clock, operated by remote control and with a church tower movement, next to the mulberry tree. It catches everyone’s attention with its varying colours that change with the seasons. There has also been a sundial on the house façade on the right since 2003.

On the other side of the road, there is a copy of a Prussian milestone. It is a reminder of the Berlin-Frankfurt post line, set up in 1711/1712, with the coaching station and tankard by the River Flakenfließ in Erkner. It is still possible to walk along the Alte Poststrasse through the forest today. You will also see three smaller mulberry trees, planted in the 1990s, on the corner of Friedrichstrasse and Wollankstrasse.

These are just a few metres away from the Town Hall in the centre. The nearest bus stop is Erkner - City-Center. The regional and S-Bahn station Erkner, with the Central Bus Station, is also not far away.