FAQ Accessibility Nation of Gondwana
Dear Parallel World Tourists,
We want to become more accessible. That’s why we sought a lot of input from the “Initiative Barrierefrei Feiern” team, other advisors, and guests with expertise. We are continuously working to make NoG more accessible. Since organizing a festival is a “work in progress,” we will update this page whenever there are new developments. (As of: 20.06.24)
If you can’t find all the answers to your questions in our FAQs or if you are unsure whether you will manage well at our festival, just contact us via email at barrierefreier@pyonen.de. If we know about your individual needs early on, we can respond in the best possible way.
Where do we celebrate and what does it look like?
Since 1999, we have celebrated the Nation of Gondwana on a large green space in Grünefeld, situated in the middle of a pine forest. There are several stages (Wiese, See, Bei Birke, Spelunke, Wäldchen) each with their own bars (Wiese-Bar, Seebar, Spelunke-Bar, Birke-Bar). The Wäldchen does not have its own bar. At the Wiese-Bar and Birke-Bar, there are lowered counter areas.
The “Wiese” is the main stage and is only open from Saturday noon. It is located near the sanitary facilities and about 100 meters from the DRK tent. The Wiese dance floor is uneven but mostly has a solid ground covered with grass.
Between the Wiese and the area to the lake, there is a sandy path 2.5 meters wide. On the way to the lake stage and in the area of the lake bar, there are some tree roots. The path to the stage is sandy. The lake stage is located on the beach, right by the lake and the forest.
The “Spelunke” stage is west of that, surrounded by trees, and accessible via a sandy path about 2.5 meters wide. We will bridge this path with heavy-duty mats. The Spelunke dance floor is quite even and firm.
The “Bei Birke” stage is about 150 meters west of the main stage “Wiese”.
We are, as always, hoping for the best weather, as the field can become significantly harder to access if it rains heavily.
Pathway System
We have laid some access paths with heavy-duty mats to make the terrain more accessible for people using wheelchairs or walking aids. This (still incomplete) pathway system can also benefit blind individuals. The surface of the mats is non-slip and has a tactile, grippy texture without holes. You can find out the exact pathways at the entrance from the Welcome Team and at our Barrier-Free Info Point at Awareness. However, the event area is not yet fully covered.
Camping Area
The campsite is located directly south adjacent to the event area. There are no additional entrance areas, checks, or gates between the campsite and the stages. There are occasional construction fences; otherwise, there are path markings with approximately 1-meter high wooden stakes in the ground and 1.5-meter wide passages. The roads and paths in the campsite are partly sandy and uneven. Below are some pictures of the area and surfaces to give you a better idea.
Companion
If you require a companion, please contact us by email at barrierefreier@pyonen.de. Your companion will receive a free ticket from us. If needed, it is also possible to bring more than one companion.
Public Transport Arrival
It is possible to travel by regional train from Berlin to Nauen Station. The station is equipped with elevators and tactile guidance systems. Free shuttle buses are available at Nauen Station. These are articulated buses from Havelbus with barrier-free entry. The buses are usually very crowded, and many people crowd at the bus entrances at Nauen Station. Four security personnel are there to coordinate entry, and you can always ask them for assistance.
More information about the station and buses can be found using the following links:
Arrival by Car
Arrival by car requires a vehicle ticket. If you depend on your own vehicle, please contact barrierefreier@pyonen.de. Alternatively, you can also be dropped off; see the next section “Parking for People with Disabilities.”
Parking for People with Disabilities
There are ample parking spaces for people with disabilities near the ticket office. These parking spaces are located on the grass in front of the ticket office. There is no paved surface there.
Parking directly on the camping area next to the tent or motorhome is also possible. Further information can be found under “Barrier-Free Camping.”
Wheelchair Accessible Environment
We have laid some access paths with heavy-duty mats to make the terrain more accessible for people using wheelchairs or walking aids. The exact pathways can be found at the entrance from the Welcome Team and at our Barrier-Free Info Point at Awareness. However, the event area is not yet fully covered.
You will receive the final information about this at the entrance upon arrival. During the event, there will be a crew continuously checking the pathway system for contamination or emerging issues. If you notice anything, please report it, preferably at the “Awareness” tent. A drinking water station with a ramp can be found at the entrance to the event area, just before the Wiesebühne stage.
Orientation on the Site
We will use more pictograms throughout the site for easier orientation. Additionally, you will receive a printed site map at the entrance, showing all important contact points.
Notes for People with Visual Impairments
There are no tactile guidance systems or similar on the site. We will lay some access paths with heavy-duty mats. This still incomplete pathway system may be helpful for orientation, as the surface structure of the mats is non-slip and has a tactile, grippy texture without holes. The exact pathways can be found at the entrance from the Welcome Team and at our Barrier-Free Info Point at Awareness. Additionally, there will be a tactile 3-D site map. You can find this at the entrance and at the Barrier-Free Info Point.
At the entrance and at Awareness, there will be a QR code with the drink menu for download so you can have it read aloud by a screen reader at the bars if needed. We can ensure good network coverage at the entrance.
Unfortunately, the network coverage on the site is otherwise very poor. Therefore, during the event, it is often not possible to make phone calls or use location services for better orientation.
Barrier-Free Sanitary Facilities
There will be two combined barrier-free shower and toilet containers near the DRK and the barrier-free camping area C3. These are well-lit and equipped with handrails, sinks, disinfectant, and bins for hygiene products. The shower and toilet are not separated.
Additionally, as in previous years, we will provide some barrier-free portable toilets equipped with light and disinfectant. These will be located in the DRK area, near the “Wiese” and “Bei Birke” stages, and also near the entrance on the arrival day. These toilets and containers are equipped with a Euro key (https://www.schwerbehindertenausweis.de/nachteilsausgleiche/mobilitaet-und-reisen/euroschluessel-fuer-behindertentoiletten).
If you don’t have a Euro key, you can borrow one for a €35 deposit at the entrance or at Awareness. The deposit will be refunded at the end of the event, either at the waste deposit station or at Awareness.
All barrier-free sanitary facilities are gender-neutral.
Barrier-Free Camping (C3)
We offer a more accessible camping area located at C3, which is central and close to the stages. From there, it is about 20 meters to the DRK tent and the barrier-free portable toilet, and the area is also close to the event site. The combined sanitary containers are located at the edge of the camping area, and there is a charging station for electric wheelchairs and other aids. The camping area, like the rest of the campsite, is on grassy terrain. There will be a pathway system with heavy-duty mats leading to the sanitary facilities and towards the event site. During arrival, you will find a Welcome Crew at C3 who can answer questions and provide support or assistance if desired. Due to its central location, the music on the campsite is quite loud, even at night.
You are welcome to camp with your friends at C3.
We ask for early registration at xynia@pyonen.de so we can prepare appropriate capacities and enough space. However, there should also be space available for you and your group on-site.
Charging Station for Electric Wheelchairs and Other Aids
At the C3 campsite, you will find a charging station for your electric wheelchair and other aids. Please bring appropriate cables with you.
Platforms
We have two platforms accessible via a ramp. These are located on the western side of the Seefloor and are one of the endpoints of the pathway system. The second platform can be found in the Wäldchenfloor but is not accessible via the pathway system. However, the forest floor is solid and level.
Bars
At the Bei Birke Bar, you will find two lowered counter areas; the path there leads across the event area and is not accessible via the pathway system. The large Wiesenbar has a lowered counter on the eastern side and is accessible via a pathway system. On request, our bar staff can provide metal straws, which you can keep. At the entrance, there is a QR code with the drink menu for download so you can have it read aloud by a screen reader.
Cashless
At the cashless container near Awareness, you will find a machine mounted at 1.10m height where you can top up your chips using your bank cards. Unfortunately, only cashless payment is possible here.
Awareness Team, Welcome Crew & Safer Space
Our trained Awareness Team from Safer Space is available around the clock to listen to any concerns and provide assistance. During the entire event, there will be at least one person specifically available for accessibility issues, either at the Awareness tent or at C3. The Safer Space tent is located near the DRK. Inside the Safer Space tent, there is a supervised and separated quiet area with reclining options.
Additionally, there will be mobile teams roaming the event site, identifiable by their green vests.
At arrival and departure, there is a Welcome Crew that can accompany you to C3 (the barrier-free camping area) if needed or take extra time to provide all necessary information.
Sensitive Staff
Our core team and team leaders have completed a workshop on “barrier-free celebration.” We will pass this knowledge on to all staff members to the best of our ability.
Assistance in an Emergency
The phone network coverage on our site is very poor. All teams are connected via radio. If you are feeling unwell or need assistance, all our staff (catering, transport, security) are available to help and can arrange further support.
DRK
There is a fully equipped medical tent on-site with an ambulance, emergency doctors, and paramedics from the Red Cross, available around the clock.
Medication Cooling
In the DRK tent, you can cool your medication in a designated refrigerator. Please bring your medication in a labeled and sealable container.
Quiet Area
There is a supervised and separated quiet area with reclining options in the Safer Space tent.
Extreme Light Effects & Volume
Almost all our stages are equipped with moving, flashing lights, including some strobe lights. Our musical focus is on techno, electro, house, and other facets of electronic music – the volume does not exceed 99 dBA at the center of the dancefloors but may reach high levels with strong bass and unusual sounds.
Assistance Dogs
We believe that a techno festival is not a suitable environment for dogs, so unfortunately, assistance dogs are also not allowed.
Photos with descriptions of the ground conditions
