Berlin's villages - Rixdorf


Did you know that Berlin consists partly of villages that origins date back long ago? Today they are part of the metropolitis and you will find hardly traces of them.They gradually merged into the present capital, hustling and bustling with life and traffic. However, you can still find the remains of the former village like a church, a village green and sometimes a pond.

Rixdorf is one of Neuköllns gems. If you leave the underground station Karl-Marx-Straße (U7) just walk along Herrenhuter or Uthmann Straße (note the beautiful old houses)  you will be there in no time. Here you are in a quaint village rather than a city. Neukölln was called Rixdorf, before it got its name in 1912. Rixdorf had a bad reputation and its inhabitants were glad when the name was changed on the birthday of Emperor William II on 27th January.

 The Bohemian Village in Rixdorf
In 1737 the Prussian King Frederick William I invited some protestant refugees from Bohemia to settle here. Nine double houses for 18 families were constructed. Rixdorf, that was originally founded in 1360, was then divided into Deutsch-Rixdorf and Böhmisch-Rixdorf. They were reunited in 1874.
Very few houses remain from this time because a fire destroyed the village in 1849. What caused this calamity? A man shot a stork perching on a straw roof!
The old school house was inaugurated in 1753 and used until 1909. It is thus the oldest school house in Neukölln and houses now a museum that tells the story of the Bohemian immigrants.
Opening times: Thurs, 2pm-5pm; first and third Sunday in month, 12pm-2pm. Kirchgasse 5, 12043 Berlin
You will find a statue of Frederick William I.(1688-1740) in Kirchgasse. It was erected by Alfred Reichel in 1912.


Statue of Frederick William I, who allowed Bohemian refugees to settle in Rixdorf



Richardplatz and Richardstraße
On Richardplatz you will find Berlin’s oldest smithy. It was first mentioned in 1624.The smithy was rebuilt several times during the centuries. Every year, on the second weekend in advent a lovely Christmas Market takes place on Richardplatz. In September it is time for Popráci. At this odd event, that has Chech origins, hay bales are rolled along Richardplatz by young and old.
Also on Richardplatz is the village church or Bethlehem Church. It it originally medieval, but was reconstructed several times. It was only in 1912 that it was renamed Bethlehem church.
Richardstraße has some very fine old houses. A plaque on the house Nr.80 reminds of the fire of 1849. But the highlight in Richardstraße is the quaint Comenius Garden.


 













Bethelehem church on Richardplatz








 Comenius Garden
This small garden is one of Neukölln secrets and offers a lovely retreat. It is named after the philosopher, pedagogue and theologian Johann Amos Comenius (1592-1670).
 He introduced the first pictorial textbooks written not in latin, but in native language and supported the idea of equal education for everybody including women.The Comenius garden was opened in 1995 on the site of the dreadful Richardsburg, one of the notorious “Mietskasernen” (tenements). It was torn down in 1971. Apart from plants, wildlife and water there are quaint nooks where you can retreat and relax. You must ring the door bell at the fence to enter the garden. 
Richardstr.35


 
Comenius Garden in early spring


 As you walk along Kirchhofstraße you will come to Magdalenenkirche that was built in the 1870’s. In front of it is a Café Achteck, a type of public toilet that was invented in the late 19th century and that exists only in Berlin.

 Magdalenenkirche and Café Achteck






                                                  








                                  

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