The most beautiful castles in the area are always worth a trip from Berlin. Have you ever been to the largest palace of the Prussian king? Or do you know the hidden castle just an hour away from Berlin that is only open once a year? If you’ve had enough of the splendor of these magnificent buildings, you can also visit a castle in a completely different condition. The Hohenlandin castle ruins in northeastern Brandenburg are one of the most fascinating “lost places” in the region. Once a magnificent mansion, today it tells a melancholic story of splendor and decay.
From English country house to ruin
Photo: Birkenhoch / Wikimedia Commons
The castle was built around 1860 on behalf of the von Münchhausen family. The building was designed entirely in the Tudor Gothic style, the last phase of Gothic architecture in England. With its battlements, turrets, and pointed arch windows, it was therefore more reminiscent of an English country house than a typical Prussian mansion. At the time, it was considered one of the most modern and magnificent buildings in the entire Uckermark region.
After World War II, however , the family was expropriated. During the GDR era , the building initially served as refugee accommodation, later as a school, a consumer goods store, and a community center. However, as hardly any money was invested in its upkeep and the roof gradually began to leak, it fell into disrepair. After reunification, the castle stood empty, was further damaged by vandalism and arson, and is now a ruin. The ceilings have collapsed, and nature is slowly reclaiming the walls.
Visit to the mystical park
Photo: Unsplash
The ruins are located in the municipality of Mark Landin (district of Hohenlandin), about 100 kilometers northeast of Berlin. Today, the Hohenlandin castle ruins are a popular destination for photographers and fans of “lost places.” However, due to the risk of collapse, the building itself is usually off-limits. A support association now takes care of the castle’s interests.
From the outside, however, the ruins offer an extremely photogenic and mystical image with their high, windowless walls and ivy-covered facade . Combine your trip with a walk through the extensive Lenné Park that surrounds the castle. Even though – or perhaps because – the park is now overgrown, you are sure to find a very peaceful, almost enchanted atmosphere!