Nicholas’ Quarter, together with the nearby Cölln Quarter, is the Medieval centre of Berlin. It dates back to the 13th century when the city started taking shape around a ford where crossing the river Spree was relatively easy for merchants and travellers. Throughout the following centuries, this particular area of the city maintained its Medieval architecture and look, until the events of World War II, when most of it was destroyed by air raids during the Battle of Berlin. In 1987, for its 750th anniversary, the city decided to rebuild Nikolaiviertel as a mix of old and modern architecture, which makes walking around the neighbourhood an interesting and unique experience.