As the only historical district in Berlin that has largely remained intact and features buildings such as the Sophienkirche, the New Synagogue, and the Hackesche Höfe, which reference more than three centuries of Berlin's architectural and construction history, the Spandauer Vorstadt along with the Scheunenviertel is a stroke of luck. Since the 1990s, the area around Hackescher Markt and Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz has also developed into a trendy spot for culture and nightlife in the heart of the federal capital. Wolfgang Feyerabend, Thomas Raschke, and Veit Stiller explore the history and present of the area, which has become an essential part of any visit to Berlin.