Imagine stepping back in time almost 800 years. That is how far back the history of Lankwitz stretches. Lankwitz is a locality in the borough of Steglitz-Zehlendorf in Berlin. Lankwitz was first mentioned in 1239 as Lancovica. It became part of Berlin in 1920. This happened through the Greater Berlin Act. Before that, Lankwitz was an autonomous Prussian municipality.
Lankwitz sits in Berlin’s southern suburbs. It is near Brandenburg’s borders. Lankwitz is bordered by several localities. These include Steglitz, Lichterfelde, Mariendorf, and Marienfelde. The Teltowkanal marks the boundary between Lankwitz and Steglitz.
Have you noticed the S-Bahn lines S25 and S26? They serve Lankwitz at the Lankwitz station. The S2 line also crosses the quarter. It marks the border with Mariendorf. Many bus lines also serve Lankwitz.
The heart of Lankwitz centers around the Dorfkirche Lankwitz. It also includes Trinity Church and the Lankwitz S-Bahn station. The Gemeindepark offers lawns for relaxing. You can also find flower beds and playgrounds there. An exercise trail winds through the park. A pond adds to the scenery. An animal enclosure houses fallow deer, goats, and sheep. In winter, the hill with the war memorial becomes a toboggan run.
Lankwitz features various “quarters”. The Weinviertel is northeast of Lankwitz station. It has buildings from the 1930s. These buildings are surrounded by allotment gardens. Northwest of Weinviertel is Komponistenviertel. This area features villas built in the late 19th century. It was once called Rosenthalsches Viertel. It features houses and mansions with sprawling parks.
Simpler buildings are in the Klamottenviertel. This “quarter” lies south of Lankwitz. The Thüringer Viertel is in the southwest. The Lankwitz cemetery is located here. Old Lankwitz lies in the northeast. It has a rural charm and single-family homes. Modern high-rises dominate the cityscape around Kamenzer Damm.
Do you know about the Lanke? Lankwitz gets its name from the old Slavic Lankowice. This means a place on the bank. The Lanke was a meadow stream that flowed through the village. Today, the Lanke is mainly channelled or part of the Teltowkanal. The Lanke-Stein marks its source.
Lankwitz has a rich history. In 1239, Johann I and Otto III gave Lankwitz to the St. Marien convent in Spandau. The village had 44 hides. This meant it had been surveyed. This suggests a German takeover before 1239. The village’s core lies northeast of the locality.
The Dorfkirche Lankwitz reflects this history. A wooden church likely came first with German settlers. A stone church followed around 1250. Lankwitz was mentioned as a parish village in 1265.
Have you heard of the Lankwitz Bombennacht? Allied air raids heavily damaged Lankwitz. This occurred from August 23 to September 4, 1943. About 85 percent of Lankwitz was destroyed. Buildings gradually filled the gaps after World War II.
Take a stroll through Lankwitz. Enjoy the many parks and gardens. Lankwitz is a green district. It feels like a garden city. The Gemeindepark is the largest green area. The Bernkastler Platz is a fine example of Wilhelminian garden art. The north-south path crosses Lankwitz. It ends at the Cross cemetery.