The roots of the historic city district Neu-Cölln am Wasser lie in the first city expansion of the twin city Berlin/ Cölln in 1662. Prior to this, Wallstraße as we know it today was still a branch of the Spree river, and the surrounding sandbanks and meadows were marshy and difficult to cultivate.

City expansion turned Berlin/Cölln into a stronghold. The wall built by the Great Prince-Elector as protection against potential attacks by the Swedes spanned 14 bastions. Bastions IV to VII were in Neu-Cölln am Wasser and later contributed significantly to the subdivision of the area.

The bastions themselves were named after their prevailing or historical uses: the Gertrauden-Bastion (IV) at Spittelmarkt after the Gertrauden hospital, the Salz-Bastion (V) after the former salt works (1589), the Heubinder-Bastion (VI) after the haybinding trade and the Köpenicker-Bastion (VII) after its location near the district of Köpenick.

Introduction

Water, city expansion and the stronghold period until the late 17^th century

Sugar, freemasons and bathing in the 18^th and 19^th centuries

Textile industry, federations and city museum post-1900

Prominent roles and central location along the wall in the GDR

Back to the centre post-1989