Berlin-Pankow: development and life in the district

Pankow is located in the north of Berlin and borders Reinickendorf to the west, Mitte to the south-west, Friedrichshain to the south, Lichtenberg to the east and Brandenburg to the north. The district is divided into the districts of Buch, Blankenfelde, Französisch Buchholz, Karow, Wilhelmsruh, Rosenthal, Blankenburg, Niederschönhausen, Stadtrandsiedlung Malchow, Pankow, Heinersdorf, Weißensee and Prenzlauer Berg. Pankow, Weißensee and Prenzlauer Berg are rather urban with an architectural mix of beautiful old buildings to very modern buildings. The northern districts are dominated by upscale single-family homes and stylish villa neighborhoods.

The most famous sight in Pankow is the baroque Schönhausen Palace, which is located in a wonderful palace park. This park tells its 300-year history through the different design and lets garden lovers and history fans immerse themselves in different eras. History lovers will also get their money's worth in the castle museum, where valuable furniture, paintings, handicrafts and textiles from three centuries are exhibited.

Much less known, but worth a short trip for friends of baroque architecture, is certainly the castle church in the district Buch from the 18th century. The original church tower was destroyed during the war, and restoration is being planned by the sponsoring association. But even without the tower, it is a building worth seeing both outside and inside.

What would Berlin be without its many parks and green spaces? And of course there are some of them in Pankow. In the northern districts it is already very green anyway, in the more urban districts we recommend a visit to Mauerpark. Historically interesting is the fact that this park is located on the area of the former Berlin Wall, a part of the so-called Hinterland wall is still preserved. By the way, every Sunday a colorful flea market takes place in the Mauerpark, so it's just the thing for bargain hunters and collectors of rarities.

The next park worth seeing is the Pankow Bürgerpark. With an area of about 12 hectares, it is the largest park in the district, and a particularly beautiful feature is the entrance gate, which was created just like the park itself at the end of the 19th century. There is a small park library where volunteers lend books, games and even tables and chairs to park visitors for a day. And in the park café there are treats for the small appetite.

Pankow offers a wide range of restaurants, bars and cafés, of which Prenzlauer Berg has a particularly large number. Clubbers will also find what they are looking for here, because nightlife is celebrated in a big way in "Prenzlberg". The areas around Helmholtzsplatz and Kollwitzplatz are particularly popular. On Kollwitzplatz, by the way, is the statue of Käthe Kollwitz, which has inspired several generations of children to climb around. Also on Kollwitzplatz there is an eco-market every Thursday and a weekly market on Saturdays.

In Pankow, shopping enthusiasts will definitely find what they are looking for in several shopping centers. For example, there is the Rathaus-Center, the Mühlenberg-Center or the Schönhauser Arkaden. Here you can store at well-known retail brands and enjoy a large and varied selection.

In the southern districts, public transportation is well developed with buses, streetcars, suburban trains and subway lines. Drivers can enjoy very good connections thanks to the A114 autobahn.