Martina Baltkalne
-
My name is Martina, and I am originally from Riga, Latvia. I have been living in Berlin since 2013. I studied Biology at the University of Latvia and the University of Heidelberg, before going on to study Music at City, University of London. Although my academic background is not in history, it has always been a central interest of mine and has shaped my professional path.
I have been working as a guide in Berlin since 2018, beginning my career with Berliner Unterwelten, an organisation dedicated to exploring the city’s underground structures from WWII air-raid shelters to escape tunnels under the Berlin Wall. This experience strongly influenced my approach to guiding and my interest in the less visible aspects of the city.
In 2021, I co-founded Beyond and Beneath Tours, an independent tour company focusing on small-group, in-depth walking tours that explore lesser-known but equally significant parts of Berlin. Our tours aim to go beyond the standard narratives and offer a more nuanced understanding of the city. Since 2026, I have also been working as a guide at Museum Berlin-Karlshorst, the historic site of Germany’s unconditional surrender in May 1945.
My particular areas of interest include medical history, the history of East Germany, and Berlin’s broader cultural history. I am especially drawn to exploring specific institutions - such as hospitals, prisons, and cemeteries - and examining them within the wider context of the city’s development.
What fascinates me most about Berlin is the way different historical layers coexist and continue to shape the present. Making these connections visible and meaningful for my guests is what I value most in my work.
-
