Mr. Sommer, as Mayor of Prenzlau, what do you associate with Prenzlauer Berg in Berlin?

Ralph Bollman

Correspondent for economic policy and deputy head of business and “Money & More” for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sunday newspaper in Berlin.

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Sommer: First of all, I want to state that Prenzlauer Berg is named after Prenzlau, not the other way around.

I've had visitors who thought Prenzlau belongs to Berlin.

They were then surprised that the journey from the airport took so long.

Mr. Benn, how often do you get asked about Prenzlau?

Benn: That rarely happens.

The Uckermark has long since become hip among Berliners.

Even with writers, in whose novels the locals don't always come off well.

Does that annoy you, Mr. Sommer?

Sommer: I am pleased that we have become interesting.

Film directors or the manager of Rammstein live here today.

We have a great influx of people who enrich us.

On the other hand, there are discussions: the tractor drives too fast, the rooster crows too loudly and the manure stinks.

Is that the notorious latte macchiato group from Prenzlauer Berg?

Sommer: There is something to the cliché.

If I see someone in our organic shop barefoot in a baggy shirt holding a child who is still sucking a pacifier at four – then they are probably Berliners.

Do you also go to the organic shop?

Summer: There's buttermilk from Bavaria that tastes like it's on holiday on the mountain.

But again: the people from the city are welcome to us, despite minor friction.

They renovate vacant farmsteads and they bring new ideas to the village - for example that people get together and meet up.

That often didn't exist before.

Mr. Benn, as a Berliner, do you have a house in the country?

Benn: I originally come from Brandenburg and still have family there.

This makes me one of the largest group of immigrants in the city: 200,000 Berliners were born in Brandenburg.

That's more than from Swabia?

Benn: Only 75,000 Berliners come from Baden-Württemberg.

But I think the contrast between town and country is being talked up artificially.

Of course there are different interests and lifestyles, as well as conflicts.

For example, Berliners in Brandenburg are driving real estate prices up.

And some suspicions stem from the 1990s, when the first wave of West German consultants didn't all leave a positive impression.

A certain skepticism grew.

Sommer: Even the Huguenots, who were brought here by the Prussian king in the 17th century, had more elegant clothes and more manual skills, and there was also resentment.

Benn: But the conflicts will eventually resolve.

The Berliners who come to Brandenburg today quite deliberately do not buy a house in Tuscany.

Most of them know that Brandenburg has a rather rough and sometimes mute warmth.

Sommer: Everyone has their preferences.

The big city is often too unsafe, too loud, and there is a lack of greenery, especially for older people.

Younger people usually see things differently, since Berlin is considered a cult.

So we're still at a loss of people.

Mr. Benn, you would probably be glad if not so many people came to Berlin?

Benn: My district has 413,000 inhabitants today, compared to 334,000 when it was founded twenty years ago.

Schools and parks, bike paths and trams: none of this is enough at the back or front.

It would help us if more people would move to the surrounding area.