The old fortress town of Spandau lies at the confluence of the Spree and Havel rivers. Until it was incorporated into Berlin in 1920 Spandau was an independent town that owed its origin to a choice position near where the main trade route from west to east via Magdeburg and Berlin crossed the Havel. From 1160 to about 1200, the Havel formed the
state boundary. As the border was pushed ever further eastwards, Spandau became an important economic and military rearguard. It was first mentioned in documents in 1197 and received its town charter in 1232. Two important settlements grew up: the town on the Altstadtinsel (Old Town Island) and the castle on the Zitadelleninsel (Citadel Island). As neighboring Berlin quickly grew in importance, Spandau was able to develop only slowly and by the end of the 19th C. it was still only a middle-sized town. The enforced fortification imposed on it in the 17th C. and not lifted until 1903 also hampered its development.
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