Kollwitzplatz

You are standing at Kollwitzplatz, the vibrant center of Prenzlauer Berg. Originally established as Wörther Platz in 1875, the square was officially renamed in 1947 after the renowned Berlin artist Käthe Kollwitz (1867–1945), who lived and worked near here at Weißenburger Straße 25 (now Kollwitzstraße 56a). Though her husband, physician and social activist Karl Kollwitz, was also influential locally, the square is formally named after Käthe.

In 1961, sculptor Gustav Seitz placed a bronze statue of Käthe in the center of the square, inspired by a self‑portrait. Located opposite her former home, it has become a beloved landmark and even a climbing spot for children. The park was first laid out in 1886 by landscape architect Hermann Mächtig, featuring a triangular flowerbed with surrounding paths and trees. After wartime destruction, landscape architect Reinhold Lingner redesigned it in 1949, adding a playground where a fountain once stood.

In 1977, the square was updated with more greenery, benches, and table tennis tables. The former water tower plot beside the square has since been replaced by distinctive residential buildings. Once a water supply—and at times a holding facility—it now blends into the neighborhood