18 years with Knutitours

25.1.2026 by Mervi

Today Knutitours (Knuti’s Magazine and the Knuipe) celebrates it’s 18th (!) anniversary! The journey has been long and there have been crashes along the path but like the Fenix bird Knutitours has always risen from the ashes so the magical journey goes on!

Knutitours consists of two parts: Knuti’s Magazine and Zur Knuipe, which was modelled on Zur Kneipe on Rankestrasse in Berlin. Unfortunately, this cosy pub no longer exists.

This is how our Knuipe looks during the Winter season. Our guardian bear angel is always there with us.

It’s easy to find your way to the Knuipe – just follow the signs and the polar bears! 🙂

Our favourite drink has always been Knutsteiner.

Maybe you’re wondering why I make collages when there are hundreds of thousands photos of our beloved bears? I guess the answer is that it’s simply such great fun! Everybody making collages knows that seeing a photo immediately makes you think how you could use it in a collage. Maybe it’s a way to express our feelings?

Here’s a selection of pictures I’ve made as illustrations for stories in Knutitours.

The Dream Team – always in our hearts.  These collages of TD and Knut were made in the summer 2008.

I’m still sad and asking why  our Dream Team isn’t with us any more but looking at these collages makes me remember the happy days and I can smile again. I hope you can do the same.

Of course, Knut is very interested in sports and he’s always supporting his team.

– Hey, this thing is too heavy! I certainly need more calories!! Sylvia, Marcus, Ronny – where’s my dinner?????

My enclosure must be clean and tidy!

This is for all the besserwissers and yellow papers!

A new era began when Fräulein Flocke entered Knuti’s life. I guess it was Teddybärenmutti who first informed us about her motto: THINK PINK. What fun it was (and still is!) to read Mutti’s stories!

A romantic dinner for two

On a Halloween tour – Trick or Croissant!

Knut and Flocke wanted to make some changes in the enclosure and decided to do the job themselves.

Again something happened…. Rasputin aka Raspi came to Nuremberg from Moscow and we had to accept that Knut and Flocke weren’t meant to be a couple.

However, everybody soon fell in love with the charming Russian bear and the three bears became good friends  – at least in our virtual world. 🙂

Knuti, Flocke and Raspi spent their vacation together in the Alps.Don’t they look cute?

I think this photo was taken during their vacation in Trinidad & Tobago.

Knut is now wandering on the eternal ice with many polar bear friends but let’s not be sad. Let’s be happy we had the privilege to know this wonderful polar bear. Let’s celebrate his life with a smile on our faces.

I want to thank all readers and, of course, all the eminent reporters/photographers that make it possible for me to keep Knutitours flying! It would be nice to get more feedback in this magazine. The great articles and photos deserve it!

My special thanks go to our magic Knuti bear who has always been and still is a fantastic source of inspiration!

Thank you all for the 18 years! The journey goes on – welcome to fly further with the Knutitours!

Bear hugs to everybody from Mervi