Chamissoplatz

Old facades on Chamissoplatz.

Visitors strolling around Chamissoplatz in Berlin-Kreuzberg and the neighborhood around it can discover what Berlin looked like a hundred years ago.

The square in Berlin's Kreuzberg district takes its name from the naturalist and poet Adelbert von Chamisso. Chamissoplatz in Berlin-Kreuzberg resembles a living open-air museum. Stucco facades, cobblestone streets and gas lanterns bring the Berlin of over 100 years ago back to life. Heinrich Zille captured this Berlin in his drawings.

Poor living conditions behind beautiful facades

Behind the chic façades that now house beautiful old apartments, conditions used to be poor. The apartment buildings around Chamissoplatz were built in the late imperial era. Apart from teachers and civil servants, it was mainly workers who lived here. Behind the beautiful facades, however, life was not very decorative: Inadequate sanitary facilities, dark backyards and poorly ventilated and overcrowded apartments led to precarious living situations.

Squatters prevent demolition

The houses survived the Second World War almost unscathed. In the 1970s, the then dilapidated buildings were to be demolished. Not least thanks to the squatters, the old tenements from the imperial era have been preserved.

Renovated apartments and organic market

Today, the housing situation in the Chamissokiez is no longer precarious. The apartments are very popular and rents are high, naturally in renovated condition. The houses are listed buildings. Chamissoplatz is part of the popular Bergmannkiez. There is a large playground in the center of the square. The Ökomarkt am Chamissoplatz, a market for organic fruit, vegetables, meat, cheeses, flowers and more takes place there once a week. Numerous restaurants and cafés around the square offer a wide variety of culinary delights.

Information

• Address:
  Chamissoplatz 1
  10965 Berlin
  City map