Buckow (Berlijn)

Buckow is a historic district in Berlin's Neukölln borough. It stretches along the southern edge of the city and is split into two spatially separate parts by the modern Gropiusstadt development. The larger western section, Buckow 1, borders Mariendorf, Lichtenrade, and Britz, while the smaller eastern part, Buckow 2, lies between Britz, Rudow, and Gropiusstadt. The history of the area goes back to the 13th century, when German settlers founded a wide green-village (Angerdorf) settlement. The name probably derives from the Slavic word for the European beech. The first written records date to 1373, and even then the village already had a windmill and an inn, which points to a certain prosperity. Ownership changed hands frequently over the centuries until the municipality was incorporated into Berlin in 1920. In the 20th century, the construction of the Britz-Buckow-Rudow housing estate between 1962 and 1975 shaped the look of the area and led to the physical separation of the two Buckow sections.

For visitors, Buckow offers a fascinating contrast between rural tradition and urban development. A central landmark is the village church, built of fieldstone toward the end of the 13th century. Its rare floor plan, with a west tower as wide as the nave, makes it architecturally distinctive. Renovation work in the 20th century uncovered remnants of medieval wall paintings, which can still be seen today as faded fragments in the rib vaulting, including a scene of the Last Supper. Another highlight is the undated bell from the 13th or 14th century, considered the oldest of its kind in Berlin's village churches; because of its unusual shape, it is now used only as a communion bell. Along the street Alt-Buckow you will also find several listed 19th-century buildings that reflect the village character of the area.

Beyond the historic sites, the Hans-Martin-Helbich housing estate in Buckow 1 offers a modern setting for living and recreation. This residential complex, named after the former general superintendent, includes more than a thousand apartments and is distinguished by its own sledding hill, wide meadows and fields, and an integrated shopping center. The estate thus serves both as a place to live and as a place for leisure activities. The district is well connected to public transportation, with the string of streets made up of Marienfelder Chaussee, Alt-Buckow, and Johannisthaler Chaussee forming an important axis. Several bus lines serve the area, which is also home to Neukölln's largest elementary school, the Schule am Sandsteinweg. In this way, Buckow combines historic character with modern infrastructure and offers residents and visitors a varied mix of nature, culture, and everyday life.