The Return of the Cows – Berlin, Germany - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

The Return of the Cows

Berlin, Germany

Art and a pun, all in one. 

View all photos
This was as close as I could get. It was blocked off. werdi97 (Atlas Obscura User)
577
2240
Top Places in Berlin
Ballhaus Riviera
Ballhaus Riviera
Berlin, Germany
Gärten der Welt (Gardens of the World)
Berlin, Germany
Marx and Engels Forum
Berlin, Germany
 See All

There aren’t many reasons to visit quiet Dietrich-Bonhoeffer Strasse, which lies on the bleeding edge of gentrified Prenzlauerberg’s encroachment into (formerly) gritty Friedrichshain. But Sergej Dott’s whimsical public art installation, “Die Rückkehr der Kühe” (“The Return of the Cows”) just might make it worth the trip.

Halfway down the block, if you peer into the empty lot and look up, you’ll see a green field full of larger-than-life cows “walking” up and down the side of a pre-war Berlin apartment house.

Dott specializes in public installations, including the cow installations he calls “Kuhunst.” Savvy Germanophiles will recognize the pun on the German words for art (“Kunst”) and cow (“Kuh”). Another can be found just west of The Return of the Cows, at Kollwitzstraße 18 in Prenzlauerberg.

Know Before You Go

Dietrich-Bonhoeffer Strasse runs for only one block. Roughly halfway down, look south through a vacant lot.


The Cows are temporarily down for construction. 

outsider architecture architectural oddities architecture
Nearby
Wasserturm Prenzlauer Berg
0.67 miles
Judengang
0.77 miles
Schönhauser Allee Cemetery
0.91 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
Wasserturm Prenzlauer Berg
Berlin, Germany

Wasserturm Prenzlauer Berg

This water-tower-turned-high-end-apartment building was once the site of an early Nazi concentration camp.
The Knaackstraße gate to the Judengang.
Berlin, Germany

Judengang

Once a path for Jewish funeral processions, this unassuming alleyway is rich in local lore.
Tombstones at the lapidarium of the Schönhauser Allee Cemetery.
Berlin, Germany

Schönhauser Allee Cemetery

Inside this Jewish cemetery is a memorial to soldiers who deserted the German army and were executed.
Berlin, Germany

Haus des Lehrers

A socialist building dedicated to teachers showcases one of the largest Soviet mosaics in the world.
Related Places
The Hermit House.
Herzliya, Israel

The Hermit House

This marvelous work of outsider architecture is built into the cliffs of an Israeli beach.
Exterior of Castle, with cemetery .
Greenback, Tennessee

Fortress of Faith (Greenback Castle)

One man has spent decades faithfully constructing this unique brick and cinderblock castle.
Los Angeles, California

Mosaic Tile House

Rainbow-hued local gem in Venice.
La Maison Sculptée.
Amanlis, France

La Maison Sculptée

An enchanting work of outsider art, full of whimsical sculptures and carvings.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web