Ever strolled through a place where history and nature intertwine? Welcome to Rehwiese und Nikolassee. This area holds stories within its landscape. Rehwiese und Nikolassee is more than just a pretty place. It is a protected landscape in Berlin’s Steglitz-Zehlendorf district.
Once called Kuhfenn or Franzosenwiese, Rehwiese is a long, narrow lowland stretching about one and a half kilometers. Imagine Nikolassee before 1901. Rehe, the deer that give the area its name, grazed here often.
Rehwiese connected Nikolassee lake to Schlachtensee as part of the Grunewald lake chain. This chain formed during the Ice Age. The Rehwiese depression clearly shows this ancient valley. Today, it is largely dry. But you can still see marshy strips near Nikolassee lake. These areas provide wet soil for valuable riverside forests.
The area gained protected status on August 25, 1960. This safeguard aimed to preserve its natural beauty. However, the Berlin Waterworks installations are excluded from this protection. These facilities extract groundwater. Twelve wells in Rehwiese pump around three million cubic meters of water annually. This was once nine million cubic meters between 1983 and 1992. Efforts are underway to maintain wet areas. The goal is to control excessive woodland growth.
Nikolassee itself is a locality within Steglitz-Zehlendorf. It is named after the small Nikolassee lake. This affluent area includes parts of Schlachtensee. It also has the eastern shore of Großer Wannsee lake with the Wannsee lido. Schwanenwerder and Lindwerder islets are part of it too.
In 1901, the area started developing as a mansion colony. The Berlin-Nikolassee station opened in 1902. It connected the settlement to Berlin-Blankenheim and Wannsee Railway lines.
Nikolassee was originally a Brandenburg municipality. It became part of Berlin in 1920. During the Cold War, it was part of West Berlin. Its southern border with Kleinmachnow marked the divide between the American Sector and East Germany. The Berlin Wall fortified this border from 1961 to 1989. US Checkpoint Bravo stood on the A 115 motorway.
Today, Nikolassee is served by the S-Bahn lines S1 and S7. The A 115 motorway and the B1 highway cross the locality.
Take a moment to appreciate the blend of history and nature around you. Rehwiese und Nikolassee offers a glimpse into Berlin’s past. It reminds us of the importance of preserving natural landscapes within urban areas. The tranquil setting invites reflection. It is a testament to Berlin’s commitment to protecting its environment.