Neighborhoods
Köpenick: old town, palace and the Captain, plus Berlin's highest hill
Köpenick is older than Berlin, lies on islands between the Spree and the Dahme, and became world-famous in 1906 through a fake captain. Here are the palace, the town hall and an important memorial with walking times, plus the Müggelturm on Berlin's highest natural hill.
16 October 1906 the Captain of Köpenick occupied the town hall
Daily 9 am to 8 pm exhibition on the Captain in the town hall, according to the district museum
114.7 metres is the height of the Großer Müggelberg, Berlin's highest natural elevation
Free under 18 at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Köpenick Palace
An old town on islands
Köpenick is older than Berlin and was a town in its own right until 1920. The old town lies on an island between the Spree and the Dahme, the palace on its own island next to it, and woods and water begin all around. Köpenick became famous through a prank: on 16 October 1906, the unemployed shoemaker Wilhelm Voigt, wearing a captain's uniform from a junk shop, occupied the town hall, arrested the mayor and had the town treasury handed over to him. The world laughed, and the story was filmed and adapted many times.
Where you can see it today
01 Museum of Decorative Arts at Köpenick Palace · Köpenick
about 13 minutes on foot from Spindlersfeld S-Bahn station
As a branch of the Museum of Decorative Arts, the Baroque palace on the palace island shows interiors from the Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo. According to the Berlin museum portal, in the winter season until 31 March it is open Thursday to Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm and closed Monday to Wednesday; admission is 8 euros, 4 euros reduced, free under 18. From the palace garden you look out over the Dahme.
02 Köpenick Town Hall and the Captain exhibition · Köpenick
about 6 minutes on foot from Köpenick Palace, about 14 minutes from Spindlersfeld S-Bahn station
Directions in Google Maps · More on berlin.de
In the red-brick town hall of 1905, the district museum's permanent exhibition tells how the Köpenick prank unfolded, what role uniform and obedience played in the German Empire, and how Voigt marketed himself afterwards before dying impoverished in Luxembourg. According to the district museum it is open daily from 9 am to 8 pm, with step-free access through the courtyard at Böttcherstraße 4.
03 Köpenick Blood Week Memorial · Köpenick
about 6 minutes on foot from Köpenick S-Bahn station
Directions in Google Maps · More on berlin.de
Köpenick's history also includes one of the early crimes of the Nazi era. From 21 to 26 June 1933, SA units abducted and abused several hundred people, opponents of the regime and Jews, and at least 23 died. In the former district court prison at Puchanstraße 12, where the SA had its quarters, a memorial commemorates the victims. According to the district museum it is open Tuesday and Thursday from 10 am to 6 pm and at weekends from 2 pm to 6 pm, and entry is free.
04 Müggelturm and the Müggel hills · Köpenick
according to visitBerlin, bus X69 to the Rübezahl stop, then on foot through the woods
South of the Müggelsee rise the Müggel hills; at 114.7 metres the Großer Müggelberg is Berlin's highest natural elevation. On the Müggelturm, 126 steps lead up to about 30 metres, and according to berlin.de the view on a clear day reaches from the Müggelsee to Alexanderplatz. According to berlin.de the tower is open from 10 am to 6 pm, and the climb costs 6 euros, 3 euros reduced.
Good to know
- The best day: Thursday to Sunday, when the palace, the town hall exhibition and the memorial are all open; at weekends the memorial opens only at 2 pm.
- From the water: Köpenick lies on the Spree, the Dahme and the Müggelsee; boats and ferries are in Berlin from the water.
- Football: 1. FC Union play at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei in Köpenick, more in Berlin's clubs.