Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Germany Berlin AVUS-Tribüne (Automobile Traffic and Practice Road)

AVUS-Tribüne (Automobile Traffic and Practice Road)

The world's first motorway was used as a racetrack until the late 1990s.

Berlin, Germany

Added By
Gavin
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
AVUS-Tribüne   Kasa Fue / CC BY-SA 4.0
AVUS-Tribüne   Kasa Fue / CC BY-SA 4.0
AVUS-Tribüne Grandstand   Bodo Kubrak / CC BY-SA 4.0
AVUS-Tribüne Grandstand   Z thomas / CC BY-SA 4.0
Former control tower. motel AVUS   Klaus Nahr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

First built in 1909 with one of its hairpin corners later modified and earning the nickname "the wall of death," this was one of the first and most famous racetracks in use until its last race was held on April 26, 1998.

The Avus Race of 1935 was to be the last in its original form, as the track in its current state was no longer suitable for “modern” race cars which could easily top speeds of over 200 kilometers per hour (the track record being 259 kilometers per hour that year. When it opened the track was a 19-kilometer (11.8 mile) circuit with two straight sections running parallel with hairpin corners on each end.

The track saw may changes during its history. One being the conversion of northern curve from a flat hairpin curve into a steep bank turn. The brick construction had a tilt of 43° and no retaining barriers, making it a truly death defying and dangerous. If you missed the turn or lost control, you would simply fly off the top of the track and crash—earning it the nickname “the wall of death”.

There are still a few reminders of one of the most legendary German racing circuits the AVUS. At the northern end of the old track the now flattened corner, the old wooden seated grandstand, the control tower that is now part of AVUS motel, and a  motorcycle statue the  “Motorradfahrer Denkmal" that depicts the famous motorcyclists Ewald Kluge and Ernst Henne.

The track was fully absorbed into Germany’s road network as autobahn #115 in 1998.

Related Tags

Automotive History Races Cars

Know Before You Go

The now flattened "wall of death, the old wooden seated grandstand, the control tower that is now part of AVUS motel and a  motorcycle statue the  “Motorradfahrer Denkmal" can be seen at that was the norther end of the old track.

Community Contributors

Added By

Gavin

Edited By

Michelle Cassidy

  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

September 1, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
AVUS-Tribüne (Automobile Traffic and Practice Road)
Berlin, 14055
Germany
52.499712, 13.273587
Visit Website

Nearby Places

Berlin Radio Tower

Berlin, Germany

miles away

Messedamm Underpass

Berlin, Germany

miles away

Platform 17 Memorial

Berlin, Germany

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Berlin

Berlin

Germany

Places 140
Stories 18

Nearby Places

Berlin Radio Tower

Berlin, Germany

miles away

Messedamm Underpass

Berlin, Germany

miles away

Platform 17 Memorial

Berlin, Germany

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Berlin

Berlin

Germany

Places 140
Stories 18

Related Places

  • Bernd Rosemeyer Gedächtnisstätte

    Mörfelden-Walldorf, Germany

    Bernd Rosemeyer Memorial

    A memorial for a racecar driver who died while trying to set a land speed record on the autobahn.

  • Entrance to Jungle Park Speedway.

    Bloomingdale, Indiana

    Jungle Park Speedway

    The overgrown remains of one of the premier auto-racing speedways in the Midwest—and also one of the most deadly.

  • Racers

    Wildwood, New Jersey

    The Race of Gentlemen

    Vintage cars and motorcycles race for glory in a throwback motorsport celebration on the Jersey shore.

  • Sunrise, Florida

    Dauer Museum of Classic Cars

    Curated collection of classic cars restored to immaculate condition.

  • Can’t forget the firetruck.

    Harrisville, West Virginia

    Cliff’s Museum of Car Memorabilia

    A lifetime collection of thousands of automobile and vintage gas station items at no charge to view.

  • Muscle car in front of the pits.

    Gueux, France

    Reims-Gueux F1 Circuit

    A road that ends in the middle of a farmer’s field is one of the only remnants of this once-famous racetrack.

  • Douglas, Arizona

    Art Car World

    Dozens of elaborate works of automotive art have been preserved at this Arizona museum.

  • The main floor of the Malta Classic Car Collection.

    St. Paul's Bay, Malta

    Malta Classic Car Collection

    One Maltese man’s hobby became an extensive collection of restored automobiles, motoring paraphernalia, and antiques.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.