Think you’ve already visited all the beautiful palaces in and around Berlin ? We’re sure there’s still one left for you to discover. Of course, a classic like Sanssouci Palace, with its Sicilian-inspired palace park, should be at the top of your list—but it’s by no means the only one. There are a number of architectural landmarks that impress with their history, architecture, and unique atmosphere . And today we’re introducing you to one of them: Schönhausen Palace in Pankow —with around 3.5 centuries of history.
The palace is located in the Berlin district of Niederschönhausen and forms a seamless transition to the surrounding Brandenburg countryside. That is precisely what makes the place special: here, the city transitions almost imperceptibly into a quieter, more rural landscape.
Built in the 17th century as a Baroque summer residence, it later served as the home of Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Bevern. In the GDR, it became the official residence for state guests, and during the reunification era, important political talks took place here. Today, the palace is a museum—quiet, often underrated, but historically fascinating.
The palace park also captivates with its special atmosphere: spacious, elegant, and surprisingly quiet. Baroque sightlines meet elements of an English landscape park, while old avenues, meadows, and waterways shape the scene—and lend the place an almost melancholic tranquility, right in the heart of Berlin.
Around the city limits, especially toward Ahrensfelde, the atmosphere changes noticeably. The landscape becomes more open, quieter, and more unspoiled. Former manor houses and estates, some abandoned or only partially restored, characterize the region just as much as old parks, long avenues, and vast, largely undeveloped fields.
The area often feels quiet and almost timeless, as if it were escaping the fast pace of the city. Many places still clearly bear the traces of a bygone aristocratic culture. Slightly overgrown parks and buildings caught between decay and revitalization lend the surroundings a special depth.
