Rich in Stone: Village History, Architecture and Landscape

Rich in Stone combines historic village and architectural heritage with a variety of landscapes. The Glienig area of Rich in Stone, including Damsdorf and Schenkendorf, lies in the border region between the Mark, Lower Lusatia and the Lower Fläming. Local points of interest include village history, church and castle architecture, landscapes near Hohendorf and Sellendorf, and regional products. This mix gives you several specific starting points for deciding which side of the region best suits your travel interests.

Village History and Schenkendorf Church

Schenkendorf is considered a green village and former manor village. The place was first mentioned in a document on August 3, 1301, under the name Schenkendorp. A boundary stone on the road between Schenkendorf and Damsdorf marks the former provinces of Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt. The written record and the boundary stone offer different points of interest: one refers to the village’s historic name, the other to former provincial boundaries.

The medieval fieldstone church in Schenkendorf has a tower on its west side; an external flight of steps leads to the upper floors of the tower. The interior also contains several markers of different periods: the interior dates from around 1700, the patron’s gallery is dated to 1713, and the altarpiece to around 1724. The dates vary in their precision: 1713 is a specific year, while the interior and altarpiece are both dated approximately. This makes it possible to place the building’s structure and furnishings in separate periods, rather than attributing them to a single building phase.

Glienig Castle and Landscapes

In Glienig, the castle adds a distinctive architectural feature. The plastered building displays Baroque elements and a multi-curved gable; it was built between 1875 and 1906. The construction period and design describe different aspects: the dates indicate the period of construction, while the Baroque elements and gable characterize the architecture. The park next to the castle contains a pond, an artificial coral dripstone cave and an animal enclosure.

The landscape features also vary. The Wacholder Gorge near Hohendorf covers 34 hectares and contains juniper, pines, broom and birch stands. Sellendorf is wooded and characterized by meadows, avenues and small bodies of water. The Wacholder Gorge is notable for its size and particular tree and shrub species, while Sellendorf’s landscape combines woodland, open meadows, rows of trees and bodies of water.

Regional Products and Dahme-Spreewald

The Sellendorf distillery adds a range of drinks to the local points of interest: these include wheat grain spirit, grain spirit, apple liqueur, herbal liqueurs, fruit liqueurs and other fruit-based spirits. The selection may change; check current availability before visiting.

The wider travel destination of Dahme-Spreewald also offers a broader setting for cycling and nature experiences. In Dahme-Spreewald district, more than 1,000 km of well-maintained, fully signposted cycling routes connect the landscapes and attractions of the Spreewald and the Dahme Lake District. Dahme-Heideseen Nature Park is located in the districts of Dahme-Spreewald and Oder-Spree and includes more than 100 lakes. These regional offerings complement Rich in Stone’s specific village, architectural and landscape points of interest with further perspectives on the destination.

Discover more destinations: Wildau, Straupitz, Spreewaldheide, Lübben, Neu Zauche, Heideblick, Schönefeld, Neuendorf Am See

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