Kollwitzplatz, Public square in Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, Germany
Kollwitzplatz is a triangular public square in the Prenzlauer Berg district of Berlin, Germany. It features a large grassy area surrounded by a low metal railing, with tall residential buildings with pale grey and beige facades and dark pitched roofs standing behind it.
The square was laid out in 1886 as Wörther Platz, named after a battle in the Franco-Prussian War. It was renamed in 1947 after Karl Kollwitz, a doctor who lived and worked nearby, and a monument to his wife Käthe was added in 1961.
The square is named after the artist Käthe Kollwitz, and a bronze sculpture of her stands in the middle, often used by children as a climbing frame. Locals gather here for a weekly market and the surrounding streets are known for their cafes and small shops.
The square is easy to reach on foot or by public transport, with several entrances around its perimeter. It is a good spot to rest on a bench or let children play, and the surrounding streets have shops and cafes.
On the night of 3 October 1990, critics of German reunification proclaimed the "Autonomous Republic of Utopia" on the square, a micronation that lasted only one night. The square also has a light box that displays changing artworks in memory of Käthe Kollwitz.
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