Slowly but surely, spring is arriving in Berlin. Even though it will still be a while before we can jump into the most beautiful lakes in the area, we can still look forward to some exciting excursions in Brandenburg. These include magnificent castles and lesser-known manor houses. If you want to follow in the footsteps of history, you should visit Werneuchen Castle on Lake Krumensee. It is a place with an extremely eventful history: from aristocratic splendor to a dark Nazi past to its current unclear use.
A neo-Gothic castle fit for the movies
The castle is actually a manor house and dates back to 1913. If you spontaneously think of the “Harry Potter” films, you are quite right: it was built in the English Tudor Gothic style and looks like something out of a movie with its battlements and towers.
The history of Werneuchen Castle could also be taken from a movie. During the Nazi era, the castle was expropriated and served as a rural women’s school for rice farmers. Later, during the GDR era, it was used as a boarding school and special school. After reunification, the building stood empty for a long time and fell into disrepair until it was extensively renovated by private investors. Today, it shines again in white, but is privately owned.
Prospects for an uncertain future
Photo: Shutterstock
Today, Werneuchen Castle is closed to the public. Unfortunately, it is not normally possible to view the interior. At one time , it was even discussed as a possible embassy, town hall, or official residence of the Federal President. But it remains unclear what will happen to it.
But at least you can see the beautiful surroundings of the castle. It is located directly on the shore of Lake Krummen, nestled in a spacious park. This makes it one of the most photogenic locations in the Berlin area. There are hiking trails around the lake from which you can enjoy great views of the castle.
And it’s no wonder, given the view: because of its mystical and stately aura, the castle and the surrounding grounds are often used as a backdrop for photo shoots and small film productions.