Berlin-Wittenau

Wittenau is a neighborhood in Berlin's Reinickendorf district whose roots go back to the medieval village of Dalldorf. The settlement probably emerged around 1230 during the period of territorial expansion and was first mentioned in documents in 1322. The village originally belonged to the Benedictine convent in Spandau before coming under the administration of the Spandau district office after the Reformation. For a long time, the area's history was shaped by farming, which was limited by a shortage of meadowland and manure. Only the draining of the Seggeluch wetland at the end of the 18th century created additional pasture. As Berlin grew and workers moved in for the industry settling in the area, above all the Borsig company, the village turned into a company town in the late 19th century.

The present name Wittenau dates back to 1905, when the municipality was named after the late village head Peter Witte in order to shed the negative associations of the old name with the municipal asylum located there. In 1920, the town was incorporated into Berlin. The era of industrialization and the world wars left a strong mark on its development, as numerous armaments factories set up along the rail lines. This gave the area a strong labor-movement character, which was reflected in strikes and political activity. After World War II and reunification, the district's structure continued to change. While parts of the industry moved away, new residential developments and commercial areas were built. In 1999, the Märkisches Viertel was split off as a separate district, followed by Borsigwalde in 2012.

For visitors, Wittenau offers a few historic and cultural sights. The medieval fieldstone church dates from the end of the 15th century and bears witness to the village's early history. The Neo-Baroque town hall, inaugurated in 1911, now houses the district office and the district council. A special highlight is the Cité Foch, the former housing complex of the French armed forces, which is now a residential neighborhood and lends a French accent together with the Romain-Rolland-Gymnasium. The area also contains the landmark-protected Karl Bonhoeffer psychiatric clinic and the Wiesengrund Memorial, which commemorates the Nazi child "euthanasia" program. The neighborhood is well connected to the public transportation network and has a number of parks and green spaces that invite you to linger.