Map - Mitte (locality) (Mitte)

Mitte (German for "middle" or "center") is a central locality (Ortsteil) of Berlin, Germany, in the eponymous district (Bezirk) of Mitte. Until 2001, it was itself an autonomous district.

Mitte proper comprises the historic center of Alt-Berlin centered on the churches of St. Nicholas and St. Mary, the Museum Island, the city hall Rotes Rathaus, the city administrative building Altes Stadthaus, the Fernsehturm, Brandenburg Gate at the end of the central boulevard Unter den Linden and other tourist attractions. For these reasons, Mitte is considered the "heart" of Berlin.

Mitte comprises the historic center of Berlin (Altberlin and Cölln). Its history thus corresponds to the history of the entire city until the early 20th century, and with the Greater Berlin Act in 1920 it became the first district of the city. It was among the areas of the city most heavily damaged in World War II.

Following a territorial redeployment by the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom that reshaped the borders of West Berlin's British Sector in August 1945, the western part of Staaken became in effect as of 1 February 1951 an exclave of Mitte, then still a borough of East Berlin. This ended on 1 January 1961, when western Staaken was incorporated into then East German Falkensee, which had already been under its de facto administration since 1 June 1952.

Between 1961 and 1990, Mitte, one of the most important boroughs of East Berlin but close to all three western sectors of the city, was almost surrounded by the Berlin Wall. One of the most important border crossings was Checkpoint Charlie, near Kreuzberg.