Craving a taste of history? Right here at Alte Bäckerei Pankow you can find it. This old bakery is more than just a building. It is a journey back to Pankow’s rural roots.
Between 1875 and 1964 the Hartmann family ran this very bakery. The building itself dates back to 1860. In 2001 it was renovated and transformed into a memorial. Today the Alte Bäckerei Pankow serves many purposes. It is a meeting place a museum and a showcase for traditional crafts. You can even buy bread here.
Before the Hartmanns this land belonged to Carl Friedrich August Illhardt. He was a chimney master. Illhardt bought the property in 1860. He built a house a side wing and an outbuilding. The outbuilding is no longer here.
In 1875 master baker Carl Hartmann bought the property. He converted it into a bakery. The Alte Bäckerei Pankow remarkably survived the Second World War undamaged. The neighboring house was destroyed but this building stood firm. The Hartmann family baked bread here until 1964 when Carl Hartmann became seriously ill. He passed away in 1967. His wife Martha continued to live here until 2000.
In 2001 the property was carefully restored. Ruthild Deus spearheaded the restoration. The Alte Bäckerei Pankow was transformed into a museum bakery. Funding came from various sources including the Berlin Senate Department for Urban Development.
Today the Alte Bäckerei Pankow operates as a non-profit. Volunteers open the bakery three days a week. They sell traditional Markisches Landbrot. You can buy Pankower Lange and Pankower Runde bread here.
The Alte Bäckerei Pankow also offers a unique lodging experience. Up to two guests can stay in the historic hostel. It offers a glimpse into the early 20th century. There is also a meeting room. It features a small library and an archive. Here you can find information about Pankow and Berlin. Exhibitions showcase traditional baking crafts.
The street on which the Alte Bäckerei Pankow stands also has an interesting past. Wollankstraße was named in 1883. It honors Adolf Friedrich Wollank a Pankow official. Before that the street had other names including Prinzenweg.
The Alte Bäckerei Pankow is more than a museum. It is a living piece of history. You can see how bread was made. You can learn about Pankow’s past. You can even taste the traditional flavors. Take a moment to appreciate the history within these walls. The Alte Bäckerei Pankow invites you to step back in time and experience the heart of Pankow.