Ready to explore the heart of local governance? We are standing before the Bezirksamt Treptow-Köpenick. This is the district office that serves a large part of Berlin. Treptow-Köpenick is Berlin’s ninth borough. It formed in 2001 by merging the former boroughs of Treptow and Köpenick.
Treptow-Köpenick is special. It is the largest borough by area. But it has the lowest population density in Berlin. This district shows a unique blend of urban life and natural spaces.
As the largest district, Treptow-Köpenick covers 168.43 square kilometers. Nearly 300,000 people call it home. That is about 1,700 people per square kilometer.
Treptow-Köpenick has a rich history. It started with the Slavic settlement of Kopanica. This means “place by the river”. Köpenick was largely a fishing colony along the Dahme River. The district’s coat of arms reflects this history. It shows two silver fish. Seven golden stars represent the Pleiades. A golden key symbolizes Peter who is the patron saint of fishermen.
The Bezirksamt Treptow-Köpenick plays a key role in local politics. The district council makes laws. It elects the city government. Oliver Igel from the SPD is the current mayor.
The Bezirksamt Treptow-Köpenick is more than just an administrative center. It is part of a community with international connections. Treptow-Köpenick is twinned with many cities. These include Albinea in Italy. Others are Cajamarca in Peru and Cologne in Germany.
Treptow-Köpenick is known as the “green lungs” of Berlin. About 70 percent of its area is forest or wetland. The district includes stretches of the Spree and Dahme rivers. The large Müggelsee is also part of it.
The Rathaus Köpenick is the site of a famous event. In 1906, Wilhelm Voigt dressed as a Prussian officer. He ordered troops to raid the town treasury. A bronzed statue of the “Captain of Köpenick” stands outside the Town Hall.
The Fischerkietz is a charming neighborhood. It has old fishermen’s cottages. In the Middle Ages, residents paid dues to fish in the river. Some houses are nearly 400 years old. The Kietz shoreline is known as the Frauentog. It features a solar boat-charging station, bathing beach, and canoe rentals.
Köpenick was once famous for its wash houses. Women gathered to wash clothes in the clear water. Carl Spindler owned a large laundry and dyeworks along the Spree. Some former wash houses have become cafes. The neighborhood of Spindlersfeld also remains.
Schloss Köpenick stands on the Schlossinsel. It is a sixteenth-century building with Renaissance and Dutch-baroque styles. Today, it houses a decorative arts museum.
The district has faced darker times as well. The square features a monument to the victims of the “Blood Week” in 1933. Nazis captured and tortured area Jews. They also persecuted Communists and political opponents.
Treptow-Köpenick represents Berlin’s blend of history and nature. It is a place of charm, beauty, and resilient community spirit. It embraces both folklore and modern life. It also faces the challenges of the present.