Where can you find an island of tranquility amidst urban hustle? That is the Ortskern Reinickendorf. This historic village center offers a serene escape. Today we will explore the Ortskern Reinickendorf. We will discover its hidden stories.
Reinickendorf gave its name to the entire Berlin district in 1920. However, the history of this area dates back to the 13th century. Back then, the House of Ascania settled here. Since then, much has changed. The once historical village has evolved. It is now a modern Berlin district. It uniquely blends metropolitan infrastructure with village charm.
Finding the well-preserved village center is not easy. This is due to the street maze of what was once a Berlin suburb. Alt-Reinickendorf is now an island of peace. It is enclosed by busy main roads. The S-Bahn also surrounds it.
The old picturesque church testifies to the village’s past. In the early 19th century, fewer than 200 people lived here. The village church was built towards the end of the 15th century. Its late medieval design is distinct. Fieldstone makes up the outer walls. Some windows are round-arched. Others are pointed-arched. The church was erected as a small plain hall. It has a round-arched choir that is unique in Berlin. In 1713, a baroque square tower was added to the west front. Inside, a winged altar from the 16th century stands. Painted wooden panels depict scenes of the Passion. These scenes are based on woodcuts by Albrecht Dürer.
Three rusty iron crosses stand before the village church. Ivy-covered tombs mark the old village cemetery. Caroline Klamann is buried here. Her farm was located at Alt-Reinickendorf 25-29. Gottfried Ludwig Kerkow and his wife Anna Sophie are also buried here. Their farm at Alt-Reinickendorf 47/48 still exists. The old village school stood on the village green. It was in front of the church choir until 1911. The house of the Lehnschulze stood west of it until the end of the 19th century.
A tour of the village green shows the village image of the 19th century. It runs past some preserved farmhouses. Farmer Carl Blanke had a house built on plot 36/37. The master builder is unknown. Most of the older village buildings are now listed. These include the Ribbesche Büdnerhaus Nr.35 from 1826. Also listed is the residential building Nr.36/37 from 1887. The stable buildings and barn are also protected. They were built before 1878.
Next to the residential building on plot 38 is the old town hall. It was completed in 1885 as a two-story brick building. The colors are red and yellow. In 1896/97, a story was added. Until Berlin’s incorporation, it was the official seat. It was used as the municipal administrative center until 1920. That year Reinickendorf was formed.
A memorial plaque commemorates Max Julius Hodann at entrance 45. He worked here from 1922 to 1933. Hodann was a doctor, sex educator, and head of the Reinickendorf health department. He founded Berlin’s first mother advice center. Also, he headed the “Proletarian Health Service”. He worked at Magnus Hirschfeld’s Institute for Sexual Science. In 1933, he emigrated to Switzerland. He was a military doctor in the Spanish Civil War. Then he lived in Sweden.
Today the village green of Alt-Reinickendorf is mixed with buildings. These are from different eras and styles. Some older farmhouses and single-family homes are present. Four-story apartment buildings dominate. Two-story apartment buildings also exist. Small house settlements are on the northern side of the village green. Technical and church buildings are there too. The rectory at Alt-Reinickendorf 21 is an example. Pastor Hans Dannenberg worked here from 1935 to 1971. In the last years of the war, he protected persecuted people. After the war, he helped rebuild the city. He was a founding member of the CDU Berlin.
The original village development has almost disappeared. This is true in the northern part of the village green. Smaller industrial and commercial enterprises had settled. One example is “Prometheus GmbH” at Alt-Reinickendorf 23-27. It produced iron parts. During the Second World War, it produced important armaments. Today a large glazing company is on this site.
North of the historic village ensemble extends the Reinickendorf industrial area. It is directly connected to Alt-Reinickendorf by the Stegeweg. It is located on Flottenstraße. The area stretches to the tracks of the Nordbahn. The exception is Police Department 1. The Nordbahn is the S-Bahn towards Oranienburg. Here, it forms the district border. It lies between Reinickendorf and the Pankow districts of Wilhelmsruh and Schönholz.
The Ortskern Reinickendorf offers a glimpse into Berlin’s past. It shows how villages evolved into modern urban centers. It is a testament to the blend of old and new. The Ortskern Reinickendorf is a place where history and modernity coexist.