Playwright Bertolt Brecht and his wife Helene Weigel owned a summer house on a lake in Buckow. Since 1977, the Brecht-Weigel House has served as a memorial and museum dedicated to the artist couple. There is also a Brecht association and Brecht walking tours.
Mayor Thomas Mix (SPD) hopes the additional title will boost tourism, especially during the weaker winter season. In 2025, Buckow counted around 32,000 day visitors. According to Mix, the new street signs could be put up in autumn or winter.
The decision is controversial among residents. Mix said the vote was split: some rejected Brecht as a ‘communist,’ while others criticized his lifestyle, such as his treatment of women. In the municipal council, five members voted for the name addition, three against, and two abstained.
The business community reacted positively, according to the mayor. Plans include more events and culinary offerings based on Helene Weigel’s recipes, including Brecht’s favorite lemon cake. Brecht died on August 14, 1956, at the age of 58 in East Berlin; his works are performed worldwide.
Source: www.tagesspiegel.de
