Pascal Vent emitted a nervous chuckle while gazing at the ground from Berlin's latest tourist draw, a swing perched atop a 40-story tower block. Marketed as Europe's loftiest swing, this installation on the roof of a hotel adjacent to Berlin's iconic TV tower offers a unique city vista mixed with a thrill. Once secured in a harness, patrons are thrust forward, leaving them suspended above the ground 120 meters (almost 400 feet) below at the swing's peak.
"After a few initial swings, it becomes familiar and you feel liberated," remarked Vent, a media professional celebrating his 36th birthday with the swing experience. "I sought this to feel rejuvenated," he added. The swing, priced at approximately 20 euros ($22) for a five-minute ride, has drawn over 100 daily visitors since its June debut. Victoria Voigt, a 34-year-old care worker, found out about the attraction through social media. "It's akin to flying," she shared. Wendy Sorice, a 30-year-old hotel employee, termed the experience an "adrenaline surge" and wished she could have extended the ride. However, her boyfriend, beset by vertigo, opted to remain on solid ground, capturing her on video instead.
"We aimed to develop something straightforward and accessible," explained Andi Hoefer, the managing director of the company behind the swing, which manages multiple attractions across Germany. Previously, the company had facilitated base jumping from the building, but it failed to garner significant interest. The swing now rivals the 368-meter TV tower, a renowned emblem of former East Germany with expansive city views. "They boast slanted windows, but we provide a terrace and open air," Hoefer noted. As for surpassing the previous record for Europe's highest swing, held by a 100-meter swing in Amsterdam, Hoefer called it "pure serendipity."
