Did you know how close some architectural treasures actually are to Berlin? There is an incredible amount to discover—from hidden castles like Schloss Marquardt, which served as a stand-in for the British royal residence Sandringham in “Spencer,” to estates made famous by renowned German artist couples. Here, architectural beauty and historical significance converge to create unique destinations. Today we have another highlight from Brandenburg for you: Neue Hakeburg is one of the most impressive and, at the same time, most mysterious places around Berlin.
Perched high atop the Seeberg, the Neue Hakeburg offers a spectacular view over Lake Machnow and the surrounding nature reserve—a backdrop that almost looks like something out of a movie. The Hakeburg was built between 1906 and 1908 as a noble residence for the von Hake family. Architect Bodo Ebhardt designed a castle-like mansion in the Neo-Romanesque style, which was deliberately staged to appear historic and monumental. Even from the outside, the building looks like a medieval fortress, although it is actually a product of the Wilhelmine era.
Its turbulent history began just a few decades later. During the Nazi era, the Hakeburg was sold to the Reichspost and served as a strictly guarded research facility where work was carried out on radio technology, aircraft, and military communications —in some cases with the involvement of SS structures.
After World War II, its use changed fundamentally: starting in 1948, Hakeburg became the central party college of the SED, a training ground where the political elite of the GDR was educated. The grounds were strictly guarded and played an important role in the ideological development of the state.
Later, the building was converted into an exclusive guesthouse for the GDR government . During this time, international state guests such as Fidel Castro, Nikita Khrushchev, and Mikhail Gorbachev stayed here, turning the Hakeburg into a stage for world politics.
Today, the building is undergoing a transformation: A group of investors is planning a renovation in accordance with preservation guidelines and a conversion into high-quality apartments. At the same time, the Hakeburg remains a special place for many, one that—at least from the outside and in parts of the surrounding area—is still accessible and thus carries the reputation of a “legal lost place.”
