Krummendammer Heide

Hidden within Berlin’s eastern embrace lies the Krummendammer Heide. This tranquil woodland whispers tales of centuries past. Krummendammer Heide derives its name from the Krummendamm forester’s lodge. This lodge, nestled north of Friedrichshagen near the Erpe River, has silently witnessed the area’s transformation. Imagine the Heide in the Middle Ages, a part of the Amt Köpenick. Krummendammer Heide witnessed the birth of Friedrichshagen in 1753. King Friedrich II decreed the founding of this charming village. The rumble of progress echoed through the Heide in 1842. The Schlesische Bahn cut through its peaceful expanse, forever altering its landscape. Not long after, in 1910, the Schöneicher Straßenbahn followed suit. It connected Schöneiche to Friedrichshagen station, further weaving Krummendammer Heide into the fabric of the growing city. Krummendammer Heide became part of Greater Berlin in 1920. It joined as part of the Forst-Gutsbezirk Köpenick. Today, Krummendammer Heide thrives as part of the Berlin forests. It falls under the Forstamt Köpenick, divided into the Friedrichshagen, Müggelsee, and Rahnsdorf districts. The modern Revierförsterei Friedrichshagen resides in the Forstamt Neu-Krummendamm. The entire forest is carefully divided into hunting grounds, dominated by the towering presence of pine trees. Krummendammer Heide is more than just trees. A network of paths and roads crisscrosses the area, including the historic Dahlwitzer Heuweg. The forest is also bisected by designated Schneisen, or forest aisles, marked A through E from north to south, and n through z from east to west. Some of these aisles have evolved into roads. For instance, Gestell ‘n’ is now known as Alter Fischerweg. Fürstenwalder Damm and Müggelseedamm skirt the southern edge, while Dahlwitzer Landstraße, corresponding to Gestell ‘z’, extends northward from Friedrichshagen station. The Schöneicher Landstraße traverses the entire length of Krummendammer Heide, connecting it to the wider world. Within Krummendammer Heide’s embrace, settlements and structures have taken root. Friedrichshagen, nestled in the southeast, has expanded beyond its original colonial boundaries to include areas like Hirschgarten. In Rahnsdorf, within the Heide, stand the buildings of the Revierförstereien Müggelsee and Rahnsdorf, along with the popular Strandbad Müggelsee. Krummendammer Heide stands as a testament to the delicate balance between nature and human progress.