How about a bridge that’s not just a crossing but a linchpin of Berlin’s history? That is the Mühlendammbrücke. This bridge isn’t just concrete and steel. It is a vital artery connecting Berlin’s past and present.
The Mühlendammbrücke links Gertraudenstraße, Spittelmarkt, and Leipziger Straße with the Alexanderplatz area. It is a key part of Berlin’s east-west road network. This route runs parallel to Unter den Linden and Karl-Liebknecht-Straße.
Let’s journey back to the 13th century. A dam was built here between Berlin and Cölln. This dam allowed watermills to be built around 1220. The street got its name from these mills. The Mühlendamm quickly became a bustling business area. The dam regulated the water level. This allowed larger ships to pass.
Goods transported on the Spree had to be transferred at the Mühlendamm. There was no lock yet. Numerous wooden stalls were built. Later, these were rebuilt in stone by order of Friedrich Wilhelm. In 1578, the Mühlendammschleuse was built. It is still used today by both cargo and excursion ships.
In 1888, a new 110-meter-long lock replaced the old one. The Spree riverbed was deepened. The Mühlendamm Bridge was rebuilt. The mills were demolished by 1892. They had become an obstacle.
Between 1936 and 1940, the Mühlendamm was redesigned. The Mühlendamm building and the defense disappeared. World War II stopped the work. In the last days of the war, the bridges were blown up by the Wehrmacht.
A temporary bridge was erected in 1946. In the 1960s, a modern bridge was planned. The new bridge became East Germany’s largest road bridge.
The Mühlendamm is considered the nucleus of Berlin-Cölln. Around 1200, it developed around the Nikolaiviertel and the Köllnische Fischmarkt. The Mühlendamm was located on a trade route between Teltow and Barnim. A bridge was built at the narrowest point of the Spree. It was expanded into a weir to use hydropower for mills.
From 1448, the mills were owned by the landlord. They were managed by the Kurfürstliche Amt Mühlenhof. The products were sold in wooden stalls. The staple right led to the settlement of more traders. There was lively market activity at the Mühlendamm.
In 1850, a grain mill was built in a castle-like style. Berliners called it the “Norman Castle”. The Swiss poet Gottfried Keller mentioned the building in his poem “Mühlenromantik”.
From 1985 to 1987, the Ephraim-Palais was rebuilt. It was about twelve meters north of its pre-war location.
Today, the Mühlendammbrücke faces new challenges. Experts discovered irreparable damage to the structure in 2018. A new bridge is planned. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2028.
The new design features an elegant engineering structure. It will accommodate increasing traffic. The new Mühlendammbrücke will offer attractive redesign potential. It can be adapted for future mobility changes.
So, as you cross the Mühlendammbrücke, remember you’re walking across centuries of Berlin’s story. It’s a bridge to the past and a path to the future.