Discover Nauen: Old Town, broadcasting history and Ribbeck

If you are looking for a hotel in Nauen, it helps to consider the area’s different highlights: the almost completely preserved Old Town, the long history of broadcasting, and Ribbeck, a district of Nauen. The town itself can be explored on foot, and the town centre is accessible by public transport. You can plan your trip around whether you are most interested in historic townscapes, the history of technology, or the village ensemble in Ribbeck.

Brick Gothic and Wilhelminian-era architecture in Nauen’s Old Town

The historic centre showcases a variety of scales and architectural styles. Cobblestone lanes are part of the townscape, as are large, prominent Wilhelminian-era buildings along the main streets and small former farmers’ houses in the side streets. Almost the entire historic core of Nauen’s Old Town has been preserved. As you walk through the town, you encounter not just individual sights, but also a cohesive historic townscape.

The Protestant Church of St. Jacobi stands at Martin-Luther-Platz in the centre of the Old Town. This three-aisled hall church is built in the Brick Gothic style and was constructed from red brick in the Late Gothic period. The Catholic Church of St. Peter and Paul stands on the edge of the Old Town. Built in 1905/06 to a design by Berlin architect Josef Welz, it is a Neo-Romanesque, cruciform brick basilica. The two churches illustrate different forms of brick architecture: St. Jacobi represents the Late Gothic hall church, while St. Peter and Paul represents church construction in the early 20th century.

Another part of Nauen’s history is its radio transmission station. It has been operating for over 100 years and is considered the oldest surviving broadcasting facility in the world. This history of technology adds a different dimension to the sights found in the streets and churches.

Ribbeck: village ensemble, Fontane and garden

Ribbeck is a district of Nauen with a different character from the Old Town. Its historic village centre includes the castle, church, famous pear tree, Old School and rectory garden. A signposted historic walking route leads around the village green and refers to the year 1889. The old village school houses a fully furnished historic classroom. The rectory garden features an orchard meadow, covered walkways, herb beds and flowers, as well as a Garden of Encounters and a children’s play garden.

Fontane’s legacy is also present in Ribbeck: in 2019, the newly designed Fontane Museum opened in the castle to mark the 200th birthday of Theodor Fontane. The exhibition explores connections between Fontane, his century, Ribbeck and the history of the castle’s construction, and uses modern museum technology.

Events and when to visit

The Ribbeck Summer Night is an annual cultural event in Ribbeck. Nauen’s best-known events include the Hofweihnacht in the run-up to Christmas and the Lantern Festival during the warmer months. If you want to plan your stay around a festival, check the relevant dates before you travel. This lets you choose between a visit focused on the Old Town and its sights, or a trip centred on an event, without assuming a particular date.

Nauen in the Havelland: cycling route and nature

In the Havelland region, the Havelland Cycle Route connects several towns. It runs through the Havelländisches Luch via Nauen, Ribbeck and Rathenow to the Westhavelland Nature and Star Park. The section between Nauen and Ribbeck is well developed and signposted.

Another nature highlight in the Havelland is Lake Gülper See. On the southern shore, a nature trail of around 1.5 kilometres, with illustrated information boards, invites visitors to watch birds.

When planning your journey, you can take into account the accessibility of Nauen town centre by public transport and check the connections that suit your travel date.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Ribbeck, Nennhausen, Havelaue, Falkensee, Friesack, Rhinow, Gollenberg, Ketzin.

Return to the main travel overview: Havelland.