The Vintage Maps of Berlin

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago two old towns sat on opposite sides of the River Spree. To the south the town of Cölln looked longingly across the river at the town of Altberlin. Altberlin stared back across the flowing waters at Cölln with love in its heart.

Like all love stories this tale of passion also has a happy ending. To cut a long story short the towns of Cölln and Altberlin eventually married and became the city of Berlin.

The remnants of this ancient tale of love between Cölln and Altberlin can be discerned in the Vintage of Maps of Berlin. This collection of old historical maps of Berlin centers around what is now Museum Island in Berlin.

In the oldest maps you can clearly see the two towns of Cölln and Altberlin, on opposite banks of the River Spree. As you progress through the maps you can see how this area of Berlin's has changed and developed over the centuries.