Oranienplatz

Oranienplatz is a central square in Berlin's Kreuzberg district, in the former working-class neighbourhood of Luisenstadt (SO 36). It was laid out as part of Peter Joseph Lenne's 1841 master plan for the area, which envisioned a network of squares linked by a canal. The Luisenstaedtischer Kanal once cut across the square but was filled in after the First World War; the long lawn still traces its course. The square re-entered Berlin history when refugee activists camped here from 2012 to 2014, sparking a nationwide debate on asylum policy. Today it is a lively neighbourhood square with a weekly market, play area and strong ties to the Turkish and Kurdish migration history of the surrounding streets.