kids encyclopedia robot

Köpenick facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Köpenick
Quarter of Berlin
Town hall on Dahme river
Town hall on Dahme river
Coat of arms of Köpenick
Coat of arms
Country Germany
State Berlin
City Berlin
Borough Treptow-Köpenick
Founded 1232
Elevation
34 - 115 m (−343.3 ft)
Population
 (2014-12-31)
 • Total 61,747
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Vehicle registration B
Website Official website: http://www.koepenick.net/

Köpenick is a historic town that is situated at the confluence of the rivers Dahme and Spree in the south-east of the German capital city of Berlin.

It was formerly known as Copanic and then Cöpenick, only officially adopting the current spelling in 1931. It is known for the famous imposter Hauptmann von Köpenick.

Prior to its incorporation into Berlin in 1920, Köpenick was an independent town. It then became a borough of Berlin, with an area of 128 km2 (49 sq mi), making it Berlin's largest borough.

Overview

Hauptmann Köpenick
Statue of "Captain" Wilhelm Voigt

A large percentage of Köpenick's area is covered with forests and water, most notably the Müggelsee lake. The historic town lies in the centre of the Berlin Urstromtal meltwater valley at the confluence of the rivers Dahme and Spree. Shortly before its conflux with the Spree, the Schlossinsel lies on the Dahme, a small island with Köpenick Castle.

The Spree connects Köpenick with the Müggelsee and the Berlin city centre. The Oder–Spree Canal links the Dahme, at nearby Schmöckwitz, with the Oder river, at Eisenhüttenstadt, thus providing a navigable connection between Köpenick and the Oder.

Köpenick is sometimes called the "green lungs" of Berlin. The Müggelberge hills in the south-east of Köpenick reach 115 m (377 ft), making them the highest natural point of Berlin.

History

For many years Köpenick was an independent town. Its was first mentioned as a stronghold in 1209. This means Köpenick is older than Berlin-Cölln, which was first mentioned in a 1237 deed. For the most part of Köpenick's history, the town was known as Cöpenick.

In 1631, during the Thirty Years' War, the emissaries of George William, Elector of Brandenburg went to Köpenick to meet the approaching army of Gustav Adolph, King of Sweden, to try to stop the devastation of Brandenburg.

In 1906, a shoemaker called Wilhelm Voigt pretended to be a Prussian officer and took over the town hall of Köpenick. A play was made about the event, and later several films and television shows.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Köpenick para niños

kids search engine
Köpenick Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.