Weißensee (Berlin)

Weißensee is a quarter in the borough of Pankow  in Berlin, Germany, that takes its name from the small lake Weißer See (literally 'White Lake') within it. Before Berlin's 2001 administrative reform, Weißensee was a borough in its own right, consisting of the quarters of Weißensee, Heinersdorf, Blankenburg, Karow, and Stadtrandsiedlung Malchow. A fictional German-language TV series by the same name is set in the borough between 1980 and 1990 during the communist era.

History
Weißensee was first mentioned in 1313 as Wittense. The first settlers subsisted on fishing and established themselves on the eastern shore of the lake, where an old trade route connected Berlin with Szczecin (Stettin) and the Baltic Sea – today the Bundesstraße 2 federal highway. 



1810 vs 2020

From 1914 onwards, the Weissensee Studios produced a number of silent films including works by Fritz Lang and the expressionist film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Weißensee has historically been overshadowed by its neighboring Ortsteile (localities) Prenzlauer Berg and Pankow, however its popularity is increasing due to its proximity to the hip but more expensive Prenzlauer Berg. Its trams make reaching Berlin Mitte very convenient.

Kindergarten
Kindergarten EinStein, Klax-Kinder, Kita St.Josef, Kindergarten Staustraße, others

Primary School
Schule am Hamburgerplatz, Grundschule am Weißensee, Schule am Wasserturm, others

High School
Heinz-Brand-Schule, Hagenback-Oberschule, others

Gymnasium
Primo-Levi-Gymnasium, Robert-Havemann-Gymnasium, others

Technical college
Max-Bill-Schule

University/College
Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weißensee

Overview
Weißensee is one of the most peaceful districts of Berlin. The immediate area around the lake Weißer See is characterized by its historic architecture, numerous places of interest, parks, lakes, and activities. The Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin (Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weißensee) is of national rank. The Radrennbahn Weissensee cycling track has also hosted popular music concerts. The largest concert ever held here was a Bruce Springsteen concert on July 19, 1988, attended by an estimated 160,000 people. At Weißensee Cemetery, one of Europe's largest Jewish cemeteries, notable people such as painter Lesser Ury and publishers Samuel Fischer and Rudolf Mosse are buried.

The lake is almost circular in shape with a diameter of up to 300 m and is up to 10.6 m deep. With an area of 8.3 ha, Weißer See has a water volume of 360000 m3.

Public transport
Public transportation in Germany is widespread, especially in its capital city, Berlin. The BVG is the main transport company in Berlin. Both buses and trams service Weißensee.

Bus
255 in the directions of Schwarzelfenweg and U Osloer Str.

259 in the directions of Aubertstr. and Stadion Buschallee/Hansastr.

Tram
M4 in the directions of Falkenberg or Zingster Str. and S Hackescher Markt