Alt-Berlin

In the 13th century it was the sister town of the old Cölln, located on the northern Spree Island in the Margraviate of Brandenburg.

[1] First mentioned in 1244, 7 years after Cölln, it represents the original core of the modern Berlin.

In that period it appeared on a coat of arms for the first time, close to the symbol of the imperial eagle, two stylized bears, antecedents of the bear currently serving as the symbol of the city.

On 20 March 1307 the town was united with Cölln (maintaining its name, Berlin) forming a trading union on political and security matters, and participated in the Hanseatic League.

[2][3] Alt-Berlin, crossed at its southern borders by the river Spree, is located in the middle of the city.

Neighborhoods in Berlin-Mitte : Old Cölln [1] (with Museum Island [1a], Fisher Island [1b]), Alt-Berlin [2] (with Nikolaiviertel [2a]), Friedrichswerder [3], Neukölln am Wasser [4], Dorotheenstadt [5], Friedrichstadt [6], Luisenstadt [7], Stralauer Vorstadt (with Königsstadt ) [8], Alexanderplatz Area (Königsstadt and Altberlin) [9], Spandauer Vorstadt [10] (with Scheunenviertel [10a]), Friedrich-Wilhelm-Stadt [11], Oranienburger Vorstadt [12], Rosenthaler Vorstadt [13]
Central Berlin map of 1688 with Altberlin shown in pink