Whispers of history linger in the trees. This is Köllnische Heide a remnant of a much larger landscape.
Centuries ago Köllnische Heide was far more extensive. It stretched along the Spree River. Its name comes from the medieval town of Kölln. Kölln was south of Berlin on the Spree’s left bank. Ancient documents refer to this area as Mirica. Kölln lacked building materials. Markgraf Otto III gifted this Spree River forest to its citizens. In 1709 Kölln and Berlin united. Köllnische Heide became city property. Despite this many settlements were still called Kölln or Neukölln. Even Rixdorf adopted the name Neukölln in 1912. As a geographic term Köllnische Heide described vast wooded areas. These lay on the Spree’s left bank. The area between Kölln and Köpenick was also included. Köpenick’s first Spree River suburb was the Köllnische Vorstadt.
Industrialization changed Köllnische Heide. The Görlitzer Bahn railway line cut through it. Settlements sprung up on either side. The colonies near Niederschöneweide are among the oldest. Other areas were deliberately cleared. The Baumschulenweg district was one of them. This happened between 1823 and 1840. Berlin’s city council hoped to earn 100000 taler. They improved the road network in Alt-Treptow. Development continued reaching Adlershof in 1879. Adlershof was marshland before settlement. Some areas remained untouched longer. Johannisthal airfield opened in 1909.
Köllnische Heide today is a small city forest. It lies north of Adlershof and south of Oberspree. It’s a few kilometers from Köpenick. It marks the southern end of the historical Köllnische Heide. The Köllnische Heide district near the Ringbahn represents its northern end. The Köllnische Heide is a tranquil green space. It’s a small but significant part of Berlin’s history. It stands as a testament to the city’s evolution.
Remember this peaceful forest. This small woodland has witnessed centuries of change. It is a window to Berlin’s past. The Köllnische Heide is a place to reflect on time’s passage. It is a place to appreciate the enduring power of nature.