Happy TravellerWelcome to Staaken, a charming locality located at the western rim of Berlin within the borough of Spandau. This hidden gem boasts a rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and mouthwatering local cuisine. Join us as we uncover the many treasures of Staaken and reveal why this enchanting destination should be on every traveler’s bucket list.
Staaken is a small locality that borders on the localities of Spandau proper, Falkenhagener Feld, and Wilhelmstadt. In the west, it shares a border with the Brandenburg municipalities of Falkensee and Dallgow-Döberitz with the village of Seeburg, part of Havelland district. Buildings range from small detached houses and a garden city around the historic village center in the west to larger 1960s and 1970s housing estates in the east.
One of the main attractions of Staaken is the historic settlement around the Alt-Staaken village church Albrechtshof. This area is a family home colony in the northwest, around Berlin Albrechtshof station. Another attraction is the Staaken Garden City, built from 1914 to 1917 according to plans designed by Paul Schmitthenner, today protected as a historic monument. Neu-Jerusalem is an early example of New Objectivity residential construction along western Heerstraße, erected in 1923/24 according to plans by Erwin Anton Gutkind and Leberecht Migge. Neu-Staaken with Louise-Schroeder-Siedlung, several housing estates built in the 1960s and 70s on former allotment land in the east which then belonged to West Berlin. Siedlung Hahneberg, a family home estate in the southwest.
Staaken is served by RegionalExpress and RegionalBahn trains of the Deutsche Bahn at the stations Staaken and Albrechtshof. A S-Bahn connection to Albrechtshof is planned. The Bundesstraße 5 federal highway runs through the locality along Heerstraße.
First mentioned in a 1273 deed as Stakene (from Middle Low German: staken, stakes) in the Mittelmark region of the Margraviate of Brandenburg, the linear settlement probably arose around 1200 in the course of the German eastward migration. The estates were then held by the Benedictine nunnery of Spandau; after the Protestant Reformation, they fell to the Spandau municipal administration. The former village became part of Berlin by the Greater Berlin Act of 1920. The development of the area started with the construction of the Staaken garden city by architect Paul Schmitthenner in 1914.
At the beginning of World War I, the Luftschiffbau Zeppelin company acquired large estates in Staaken, where from 1915 on it manufactured zeppelin airships and the series of one-off Riesenflugzeug giant multi-engined bombers, among the largest of their day anywhere, culminating in the small series of R.VI biplane strategic bombers built by the firm. In 1919 the regulations of the Treaty of Versailles finished the production, and the area was transformed into an airfield. There had been regular Zeppelin flights to Friedrichshafen and even to London from 1919 on, though in the following years most of the aviation moved to Tempelhof Airport. The former zeppelin manufacturing halls were turned into the Staaken Studios and used as the location for various film productions, e.g. parts of Fritz Langs Metropolis.
Staaken has a rich history, and it is a great place to visit for anyone interested in German history. The area is also known for its mouthwatering local cuisine, which includes traditional German dishes such as schnitzel, sausages, and sauerkraut. Whether you are interested in history, culture, or just want to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery, Staaken is the perfect destination for your next vacation.
