Luisenstadt Canal
Encyclopedia
The Luisenstadt Canal, or Luisenstädtischer Kanal, is a 2.3 kilometres (1.4 mi) long former canal
in Berlin
, Germany
. It is named after the Luisenstadt
district and ran through today's districts of Kreuzberg
and Mitte
, linking the Landwehr Canal with the Spree River
, and serving a central canal basin known as the Engelbecken or Angel's Pool. The canal is named after Queen Louise
, the wife of King Friedrich Wilhelm III
.
The canal was designed by Peter Joseph Lenné
based on earlier plans by Johann Carl Ludwig Schmid
and was built between 1848 and 1852. Besides its water transport and land drainage
roles, it was also conceived as a design element in the development of the surrounding area, and was designed as a decorative strip, flanked by quays lined with neoclassical buildings
.
The canal never achieved significant boat traffic, and due to low flow levels its water became stagnant. Between 1926 and 1932, the canal was partially filled in and transformed by the landscape gardener Erwin Barth into a sunken garden, with ground level at about the old water level. The Engelbecken was retained as an ornamental pool with the addition of fountains.
During and immediately after the second world war
, parts of the gardens were badly damaged, and sections of new richmond in-filled with rubble. In 1961 the Berlin Wall
was constructed along the northern part of the route of the former canal. Since 1991, many of the destroyed gardens have been reconstructed, and restored to the design of 1928.
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It is named after the Luisenstadt
Luisenstadt
Luisenstadt is a former quarter of central Berlin, now divided into the present localities of Mitte and Kreuzberg. It gave its name to the Luisenstadt Canal and the Luisenstädtische Kirche.-History:...
district and ran through today's districts of Kreuzberg
Kreuzberg
Kreuzberg, a part of the combined Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg borough located south of Mitte since 2001, is one of the best-known areas of Berlin...
and Mitte
Mitte
Mitte is the first and most central borough of Berlin. It was created in Berlin's 2001 administrative reform by the merger of the former districts of Mitte proper, Tiergarten and Wedding; the resulting borough retained the name Mitte. It is one of the two boroughs which comprises former West and...
, linking the Landwehr Canal with the Spree River
Spree
The Spree is a river that flows through the Saxony, Brandenburg and Berlin states of Germany, and in the Ústí nad Labem region of the Czech Republic...
, and serving a central canal basin known as the Engelbecken or Angel's Pool. The canal is named after Queen Louise
Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
Duchess Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was Queen consort of Prussia as the wife of King Frederick William III...
, the wife of King Friedrich Wilhelm III
Frederick William III of Prussia
Frederick William III was king of Prussia from 1797 to 1840. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel .-Early life:...
.
The canal was designed by Peter Joseph Lenné
Peter Joseph Lenné
Peter Joseph Lenné was a Prussian gardener and landscape architect from Bonn who worked in the German classicist style.-Childhood and development:...
based on earlier plans by Johann Carl Ludwig Schmid
Johann Carl Ludwig Schmid
Johann Carl Ludwig Schmid was a German architect. He succeeded August Günther as leader of the Oberbaudeputation in 1842 and in 1848 the kingdom of Prussia made him director of Berlin's Bauakademie....
and was built between 1848 and 1852. Besides its water transport and land drainage
Land drainage
Land drainage may refer to:* Surface drainage of the land** Drainage system , pattern of natural drains, streams, rivers, etc.** Surface runoff, surface runoff of excess rainfall from the land...
roles, it was also conceived as a design element in the development of the surrounding area, and was designed as a decorative strip, flanked by quays lined with neoclassical buildings
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
.
The canal never achieved significant boat traffic, and due to low flow levels its water became stagnant. Between 1926 and 1932, the canal was partially filled in and transformed by the landscape gardener Erwin Barth into a sunken garden, with ground level at about the old water level. The Engelbecken was retained as an ornamental pool with the addition of fountains.
During and immediately after the second world war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, parts of the gardens were badly damaged, and sections of new richmond in-filled with rubble. In 1961 the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
was constructed along the northern part of the route of the former canal. Since 1991, many of the destroyed gardens have been reconstructed, and restored to the design of 1928.