Sonnenberg: Discover its history and historic buildings

Sonnenberg combines a brief local history with buildings in several places within the municipality. When planning your hotel stay, it helps to distinguish these local sites from other destinations in the broader travel region of Oberhavel.

History of Sonnenberg

Around 1524, Sonnenberg was a deserted village site held as a fief by the Bredows of Rheinsberg. The place was rebuilt from 1581 onward. The transition from a deserted village site to its reconstruction provides a clear timeline for this local history.

Historic buildings in the municipality

The castle still stands in Rauschendorf, a place within the municipality of Sonnenberg. After a major fire in 1922, it was rebuilt on the foundations of the old castle, in keeping with the local style of Baroque manor houses. In Baumgarten, visitors can explore the half-timbered church. It was rebuilt in 1704 and has a weather vane dating from 1743. Rönnebeck is home to a fieldstone church from the 13th century, which was renovated and partly extended in the 17th century. Half-timbering, fieldstone and castle architecture represent different building styles within the municipality; the dates help distinguish the building histories of the individual places.

Other cultural destinations in Oberhavel

Oberhavel is part of the Ruppiner Seenland tourism region. In Oranienburg, Oranienburg Palace is the oldest Baroque palace in the Margraviate of Brandenburg. The palace museum displays famous works of art from the 17th century, as well as a unique silver chamber and a notable porcelain chamber. An exhibition room at the Oberhavel Regional Museum is devoted exclusively to the history of Oranienburg Palace—from the Ascanian castle built around 1200 to its present-day use. The art collections and the long history of the palace site therefore offer distinct thematic highlights.

The Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum in Oranienburg also presents its own historical focus: 13 smaller permanent exhibitions provide information about various aspects of the site’s history; at the same time, the institution is a modern contemporary history museum.

Landscape and routes in the broader travel region

The Stechlin Nature Reserve was shaped by formations created during the Weichselian glaciation and is considered the area with the most bodies of water in Brandenburg. The Stechlin Nature Park House features an interactive exhibition about the special features of Stechlin-Ruppiner Land Nature Park. In the neighboring sensory garden, herbs, shrubs and other plants invite visitors to explore a range of sensory impressions. The approximately 6 km forest and water trail around Lake Roofensee can complement a visit to the Nature Park House.

For hikes through Oberhavel, both the 66 Lakes Trail and the E 10 European long-distance path pass through the district. Cycling offers another regional highlight: the Berlin–Copenhagen long-distance cycle route runs through the urban area of Zehdenick. If you plan to follow these routes, tailor your daily itinerary and choice of starting point to the route in question.

Discover more destinations: Liebenwalde, Schönermark, Birkenwerder, Stechlin, Löwenberger Land, Amalienfelde, Glienicke/Nordbahn, Hennigsdorf

Go to the broader travel overview: Oberhavel.