By Oliver Ohmann
If you are planning a trip, you can experience a lot in advance at Schropp in Berlin-Charlottenburg. Namely travel guides, maps and advice from experienced travel booksellers.
Regine Kiepert took over the business, which was founded in 1742, in 1979. The now 65-year-old comes from the Kiepert bookseller dynasty in Berlin. “I studied geography, but my family expected me to have a solid education as a bookseller.”
So it was tradition at Kieperts and yet Regine went her own way: “Schropp was always something special, originally with a shop on Potsdamer Straße. As early as 1908, the famous Baedeker recommended that one should obtain maps from Schropp before a trip.”
Today the shop can be found at Knesebeckstrasse 20. Six employees maintain the product range and advise customers. “We have computers, but we still enter special cards and books into the file by hand.” That means a lot of work, but also a lot of specialist knowledge.
The bookstore was founded in 1742. In 2042 she will be 300 years old and Regine Kiepert is looking forward to being invited to the celebration Photo: Christian Lohse
A small picture frame containing a business advertisement from Goethe’s time refers to the tradition. Schropp was already a Berlin institution over 200 years ago. Regine Kiepert: “You have to remember that back then, traveling was only reserved for wealthy citizens.”
So the general public only traveled in their thoughts. Hence the abundance of surviving engravings of cities. Maps were actually only needed for a geographical overview, not to actually find routes. “The globe is as popular then as it is today,” says Kiepert. The range includes mini globes for 15 euros, the most expensive gem is man-sized and costs 12,998 euros.
The boss has her experienced employees to thank for the fact that she can travel four to six weeks a year Photo: Christian Lohse
In modern times, navigation systems have increasingly replaced maps. The travel bookseller also feels this. “But maps and travel guides will survive,” says a woman who, of course, is also a passionate traveler herself: “I have my experienced employees to thank for the fact that I can travel four to six weeks a year.” Regine Kiepert was even ten years ago a whole year in Israel.
At Schropp on Knesebeckstraße you can find maps, travel guides, globes and much more Photo: Christian Lohse
Retirement is being considered, says the boss, “but a successor has to be found, it is unthinkable that a tradition like ours would disappear. When Schropp turns 300 in 2042, I would like to be there as a guest.”
Regine Kiepert smiles and gets back to work; new cards have been delivered. She continues to travel around the world, not in 80, but 365 days of the year. Not because of a bet, like Jules Verne, but on behalf of her customers.