It is still largely intact and has a station on the S-Bahn. Although some houses were destroyed in World War II and many have been converted into rentals, the quarter has kept its 19th-century charm and pleases with a large assortment of villas in an often extravagant mix of architectural styles. It still features its original tree-lined and cobbled streets, small squares and working gas lights. Lichterfelde West was also home to the Prussian Main Cadet School, which was disbanded in 1920 by the Treaty of Versailles, and the Prussian and later German Royal Guard. Today "Li-We", as it is sometimes called, is home to many diplomats and, next to Grunewald and Dahlem, one of the most sought-after residential areas of the German capital.
Walks
For a twenty-minute stroll leave Lichterfelde West train station direction South, cross Curtius Strasse into Baseler Strasse. Follow until you reach Karlsplatz, turn left along the square, cross Ring Strasse into Kadettenweg. Follow Kadettenweg, and pass by the Cadet Corps memorial until you reach Weddigenweg. Turn right, after two hundred yards turn right again into Paulinen Strasse for a short stop at the so-called "Carstenn Castles", small villas built in Tudor-castle style. Turn back and turn right again into Weddigenweg, across Baseler Strasse, until you reach Kommandanten Strasse. Turn right, follow Kommandanten Strasse, cross Ring Strasse, still follow Kommandanten Strasse, pass by the "Rother Stift", a former retirement home for dowagers, until you reach Kadettenweg. Follow Kadettenweg Strasse for a few hundred yards, turn right into Curtius Strasse, pass by the "Litehouse" coffee shopcum restaurant and back to the train station.
Villenkolonie Lichterfelde West, historical district of 19th-century mansion houses and cobbled streets
McNair Barracks - Prior to the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Berlin following reunification, three infantry battalions and a 155mm artillery battery were located at McNair Barracks in Lichterfelde. During readiness alerts, U.S. units would form up on the 4. Juli Platz between the kaserne and Parkfriedhof Lichterfelde, then move to their tactical assembly areas.
