Berlin – 775th Birthday!

Nikolai Church

Berlin, the capital city of Germany, is hosting its 775^th birthday celebration this August 25-October 28, 2012 commemorating the finding of the first documentation dated 28 October 1237 which reveals the existence of Berlin’s sister city Cölln.  The anniversary culminates with the jubilee festival October 28.

Berlin and Cölln were originally two tiny villages on either side of the Spree River which later grew into trading centers.  They were destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War, but celebrated a cultural re-emergence under Prussian rulers Friedrich Wilhelm I and his successor, Frederick the Great.

A unique addition to the city for the celebration includes a large (VERY large) scale 1:775 outdoor ground map of 18^th century Berlin recently installed on Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site located on the Spree River. 

There are five museums on Museum Island, some recently restored, which cover more than 6,000 years of culture and art.

The city will set up a system of temporary guided paths to lead visitors through an historical walk through medieval Berlin and her sister city Cölln.  Recent excavations and preserved documents will help paint a picture of the double city in the Middle Ages.

The exhibits on display include findings made in January 2010 during excavations for the U-Bahn in front of the Red Town Hall, two churches, and sites along the city walls.  Excavations have recently discovered a 13^th century drinking well, a 16^th century belt clasp, a 17^th century key, and the remains of a medieval Latin school.

A highlight of the celebration will be to feature the 800 years of immigration and cultural diversity in a variety of exhibits.

The Berlin Nikolai Church will also be celebrating its 800^th anniversary this year as the oldest parish church in Berlin.  It was recently completely renovated and will be the site of the finale of the October 28 jubilee.