Molkenmarkt

• 

  Excavations at Molkenmarkt in Berlin.

• Eberhard Völker, scientific project manager of the excavations at Molkenmarkt, shows a picture of a former electricity power station at Molkenmarkt.

• A figurine of St. Catherine from the 15th century, which was found during the excavations at Molkenmarkt.

Molkenmarkt in Berlin-Mitte is the oldest market square in Berlin. Due to damage during the Second World War and car-friendly conversions, there is hardly anything left to see of the former market. Historical finds from archaeological excavations bear witness to the long history of Molkenmarkt.

Berlin emerged as early as the Middle Ages with the settlement of merchants in the 12th century. Molkenmarkt (literally: Whey Market), the crossroads of several trade routes, together with the Nikolaiviertel, formed the center of the emerging city. Even before the first documented mention of Berlin (1244) and Cölln (1237), trade was conducted on the Molkenmarkt.

History of the Molkenmarkt

The Molkenmarkt was named after the adjacent Mühlendamm - Mollen is Low German for Mühlen (mills). Several aristocratic palaces were built on Mühlendamm in the 18th century. The area around Molkenmarkt gained in importance with the construction of the Rotes Rathaus. The small-scale medieval buildings gradually had to make way for larger and more modern residential and commercial buildings. Today, streetcars, buses and cars pass through Molkenmarkt.

The Molkenmarkt during National Socialism

During the National Socialist era, a prestigious development was to be built on Molkenmarkt, which is why numerous historic residential buildings were demolished. The Neues Stadthaus was built on Molkenmarkt as the city's administrative center. The Alte Münze mint was extended. During the Second World War, the buildings around Molkenmarkt were destroyed. Only the town house Palais Schwerin and the Alte Stadthaus were preserved.

Molkenmarkt becomes a traffic area

After the end of the Second World War, the East Berlin city administration decided to develop a car-friendly inner city. As a result of this decision, a large part of Molkenmarkt became a traffic area.

Spectacular finds during excavations at Molkenmarkt

In April 2016, the Berlin Senate decided to renovate Molkenmarkt. As part of this work, archaeologists carried out excavations on and around the original Molkenmarkt site. The evidence and finds uncovered bring 800 years of the city's history to the surface. The most important finds include a Japanese short sword, medieval wooden cellars, baroque vaults and much more.

Information

• Address:
  Molkenmarkt 1
  10179 Berlin
  City map