The „Schlossinsel“ (palace island) at today’s old town centre is Köpenick’s “cradle”. People settled here around 5000 years ago when a Slavic refuge developed. After the banishment of the Slavs the Askanians ruled and the „Hohenzollern“ became electors in Brandenburg during the 15^th century. The baroque palace which dominates the island today was built by Dutch architect Rutger van Langevelt around 1680 for the subsequent king Friedrich I. The palace’s chapel designed by Arnold Nehring was inaugurated in 1685. Together with the gallery and the palace’s gate it completed the baroque ensemble. The palace garden was constructed at the same time. Especially famous was the aloe (agave) which was the largest of all royal gardens. In 1712 it even blossomed. During the 18^th century the court was not interested in the palace and the garden anymore. In 1805 Graf Schmettau the king’s cartographer bought the island complete with palace and garden. He redesigned the appurtenant structures to be a modern, English park. The palace garden has been open to public since 1927. Today’s park with its loop path at the waterside was developed in 1963. Very old trees like a 350 year old elm tree, colourful rhododendrons, dark conifers and numerous sculptures invite visitors to linger or go for a walk.  All roads were reconstructed monumentally in 2006/2007. The newly opened palace café offers a beautiful sight of the park and the water. The palace has been reopened as a “Museum für Raumkunst” (museum of spatial arts) after a comprehensive reconstruction by the foundation of Prussian cultural heritage.

The adjacent „Luisenhain“ park is due to the donation of a citizen of Köpenick – businessman Otto Assenburg - subject to the condition that the city turneds the area across the city hall into a park and named it after his sister Luise. In 1908 “Luisenhain” became a public park. Later on, the area was enlarged to the palace and the bank bridge across the “Spree” and to the north along the waterside. After a reconstruction in 2006/2007 the park has become a popular oasis again. Passenger ships belonging to the “Stern und Kreis Schiffahrt” berth here. Visitors can sit on the banks, admire the old trees, drink a cup of coffee while sitting on the restaurant’s patio looking at the water or enjoy local fish specialties.