Getting to know Berlin - Neukölln / Rixdorf

“Experience the city” is the motto of Ulrike, who offered us an interesting walk through Neukölln at the ReiseBlogger Camp. Not through all of Neukölln, Ulrike led us through Rixdorf.

For me as a Berliner, it’s always exciting to discover new corners. Sometimes I think the city is so big, so diverse and so changing that you will always discover new corners. For me, Neukölln belongs to a corner that has received quite little attention so far. “Experience the City” showed me how beautiful Neukölln-Rixdorf can be.

I would like to share some impressions with you!

The Körnerpark

First we took a look at the Körnerpark, a listed park. The park, which covers about 2.4 hectares, is located on Jonasstraße.

Around 1910, there was still a gravel pit on this site. Its owner Franz Körner ceded the land to the city of Rixdorf so that a park could be created here. His condition was that the park should bear his name. Because the site was a gravel pit, it lies several metres lower than the surrounding streets. One side of the park is reached by two imposing sets of steps. In the western part of the park is an orangery with a café and exhibition rooms. The forecourt is used for events in the summer.
I can imagine that summer is really beautiful in this park. A fountain and the flowerbeds round off the park feeling.

Bohemian graveyard

Too bad, unfortunately the door to the Bohemian cemetery in Rixdorf was locked. Otherwise we could have visited a cemetery laid out in 1751. This cemetery was laid out according to the tradition of the Herrnhut community, i.e. strict gender segregation was observed and there were mainly lying gravestones.
Only as the population grew were parishioners from neighbouring churches also buried here.
If you have the opportunity, you should definitely visit the cemetery, there are still many very old gravestones to see.

Rixdorf Historic Forge

If you continue walking, you come to Richardplatz, the former village green of Rixdorf.
This is where the historic blacksmith’s shop stands. The forge was first mentioned in 1624 and at first a blacksmith from Berlin came here several times a week to do work. It was not until 1797 that the forge was converted into a residential forge and a blacksmith was now permanently on site. For 150 years, the forge was owned by one family.

Today, this building is still used as an art and cutlery forge. We were told that traditionally on the second weekend of Advent during the Rixdorf Christmas Market, the forge opens its doors for tours. But blacksmithing courses are also offered here at other times, and they are very popular.

Passage Karl-Marx-Straße

Our guided tour of Rixdorf ended at the Passage Karl-Marx-Straße. A passage was built here in 1909/10 consisting of two five-storey wing buildings flanking two courtyards. Today there is a cinema and the Neukölln Opera, among others, which use the building. The Neukölln Opera is well-known in Berlin. A colourful mix of cultural events is offered here.