Alt-Berlin ("Old Berlin"), also spelled ''Altberlin'', is a neighborhood (''Stadtviertel''), situated in the

Berlin Berlin is Capital of Germany, the capital and largest city of Germany, both by area and List of cities in Germany by population, by population. Its more than 3.85 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European U ...

er locality (''Ortsteil'') of Mitte, part of the homonymous borough. In the 13th century it was the sister town of the old Cölln, located on the northern Spree Island in the

Margraviate of Brandenburg The Margraviate of Brandenburg (german: link=no, Markgrafschaft Brandenburg) was a major principality of the Holy Roman Empire from 1157 to 1806 that played a pivotal role in the history of Germany and Central Europe. Brandenburg developed out ...

. It counts in its territory the zone of Nikolaiviertel.

History

First mentioned in 1244, 7 years after Cölln, it represents the original core of the modern Berlin. The first stone fortification was built, to defend both cities, in 1250 and in 1251 it gained city rights. In 1280 Berlin, gained the right to mint currency. In that period it appeared on a

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in it ...

for the first time, close to the symbol of the imperial eagle, two stylized

bear Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family Ursidae. They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the N ...

s, antecedents of the bear currently serving as the symbol of the city. On 20 March 1307 the town was united with Cölln (maintaining its name, Berlin) forming a trading union on political and security matters, and participated in the Hanseatic League.Historical infos about Cölln and Alt-Berlin on www.brandenburg1260.de
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Geography

Alt-Berlin, crossed at its southern borders by the river Spree, is located in the middle of the city. Its northern borders are represented, except for the square area of Alexanderplatz, by the '' Stadtbahn'' railway line between the station of

Jannowitzbrücke Jannowitz Bridge (German: Jannowitzbrücke) is a bridge over the Spree River in Berlin. The bridge connects Heinrich Heine Straße and Brückenstraße in Mitte with Alexanderplatz. History The bridge was built by cotton manufacturer Christian Au ...

and a rail bridge after Hackescher Markt station.

Photogallery

File:View Berlin TV Tower Jan2015 img1.jpg, '' Rotes Rathaus'', the city hall of Berlin File:Marx & Engels.jpg, The '' Marx-Engels-Forum'' File:View Berlin TV Tower Jan2015 img4.jpg, Aerial view of the

Nikolaikirche The following cathedrals, churches and chapels are dedicated to Saint Nicholas: Austria *Church of St. Nikolaus, Lockenhaus *St. Nicholas Church, Inzersdorf, Vienna Albania *St. Nicholas Church, Moscopole * St. Nicholas Church, Perondi *Church ...

in the Nikolaiviertel File:Franziskaner-Klosterkirche Berlin Mitte.jpg, Ruins of the so-called "Gray Monastery"

References

External links

{{Berlin-Mitte Zones of Berlin History of Berlin Mitte