Old Town Köpenick

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  Der Hauptmann von Köpenick

• Altstadt Köpenick mit Wohn- und Geschäftshäusern und dem Rathaus Köpenick.

• Die Schlossplatzbrauerei am Schlossplatz Köpenick in Berlin.

• Schloss Köpenick in der Abenddämmerung.

Köpenick's old town is located in the south-east of Berlin. Those who venture out of the city center to the outskirts of Berlin will not only discover the medieval charm of this historic part of the city, but will also be rewarded with an exciting crime story and a beautiful palace.

The Altstadt Köpenick (Old Town Köpenick) takes you back to the Middle Ages with its small streets and old buildings. The Old Town is located in the Treptow-Köpenick district and can look back on more than 800 years of history. People settled in the Altstadt area earlier than anywhere else in today's Berlin. Köpenick can look back on a settlement history dating back to before the Middle Ages. Köpenick was independent for a long time; it was only incorporated into Berlin in 1920.

Idyllic island with town hall, palace and boat tours

The Dahme and Spree rivers flow together in Köpenick, turning the Old Town of Köpenick into an idyllic island. In summer, numerous people sit on the banks of the rivers and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of the city. A stroll past the small half-timbered houses and pretty stores is a relaxing way to slow down. With the town hall and Köpenick Palace, the Old Town also has highlights worth seeing. If you would prefer to discover the old town from the water, you can hop on an excursion steamer at Köpenick Pier.

A fake hero: The Captain of Köpenick

The undisputed star of the district is the Hauptmann von Köpenick (Captain of Köpenick). Visitors encounter him everywhere in the old town. The captain's real name was Friedrich Wilhelm Voigt and he was an unemployed shoemaker. In 1906, he occupied Köpenick's town hall in a sensational action, had the mayor arrested by a few bona fide soldiers and made off with the town treasury. Ten days later, the impostor was caught. A bronze statue of the captain stands in front of the entrance to the town hall. The figure of the fake captain inspired many plays of the same name in literature and theater. The town hall itself was built in the Brandenburg brick Gothic style and is one of the most beautiful town halls in Berlin. It is a listed building.

Splendor of the Hohenzollern at Köpenick Palace

An even more striking building in the old town is Köpenick Palace. Located on the waterfront, it is the most important surviving palace from the reign of the Hohenzollern dynasty. It was built between 1677 and 1690 for the heir to the throne of the Great Elector, Frederick III, and has remained unchanged ever since. The Dutch Baroque style shows the formative influence of the Netherlands at the end of the 17th century. Inside, precious treasures and showpieces from the Hohenzollern treasure are impressive. The palace is home to part of the Museum of Decorative Arts and displays furniture, tapestries and art objects from the Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo periods as well as complete wood paneling from other palaces. A total of 21 rooms show how commoners and aristocrats lived. One highlight is the restored hall of arms.

Back to the Middle Ages in the Fischerkiez

If you are looking for very small alleyways with cobblestones and pretty medieval houses, you need to look a little outside the actual Old Town in the Fischerkiez district around Gartenstraße. This is where the oldest houses in Köpenick are located, most of them single-storey and beautifully restored. If you take a stroll here, you will quickly feel transported back to the Middle Ages. After a walk down to the river Dahme, you will have a clear view of the beautiful Köpenick Castle.

Information

• Adresse:
  Alt-Köpenick 21
  12555 Berlin
  City map