Rheinsberg Palace

Rheinsberg Palace, on the shore of Lake Grienerick about 100 km northwest of Berlin, is one of the most charming palaces in Brandenburg. Here the young Crown Prince Frederick, later Frederick the Great of Prussia, spent what he called the happiest years of his life. The palace is considered the first building of the "Frederician Rococo" style and a forerunner of Sanssouci in Potsdam, which makes it a rewarding day trip from Berlin for history and architecture lovers.

History

In 1734 King Frederick William I bought the estate for his son, and in 1736 Crown Prince Frederick moved in with his wife Elisabeth Christine. Until 1740, architects Johann Gottfried Kemmeter and Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff enlarged the palace, and court painter Antoine Pesne created the ceiling of the Hall of Mirrors. Frederick's time here ended when he became king in 1740.

He later gave Rheinsberg to his younger brother Prince Henry, who lived here from 1752 until his death in 1802 and turned the palace into a lively court of the arts. Henry added early neoclassical interiors and built an obelisk across the lake honoring his brother August Wilhelm and officers of the Silesian Wars. Writers Theodor Fontane and Kurt Tucholsky later made Rheinsberg famous. Today the palace is managed by the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation Berlin-Brandenburg.

What to see

• Hall of Mirrors: the festive hall with Pesne's ceiling painting.
• Frederick's Rococo rooms: original interiors from around 1740, including the picture gallery, shell hall and Chinese room.
• Prince Henry's apartments: early neoclassical rooms from around 1786; the summer apartment opens April to October.
• Kurt Tucholsky Literary Museum: inside the palace and included in the ticket.
• Palace park and lake: walk to the obelisk on the far shore for the classic view of the palace.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026, per the foundation's website: April to October Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 5:30 pm; November to March Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 4 pm; closed Mondays, last admission 30 minutes before closing. The summer ticket costs €14 (reduced €10, family €28); the winter ticket €10 (reduced €7, family €20). From November to March, visits are by guided tour only, in German with information in other languages. A multimedia app offers tours in English, German, Polish and Easy German. The palace is partly wheelchair accessible; strollers are not allowed in the exhibition rooms.

How to get there

Rheinsberg is about 100 km northwest of Berlin, roughly a 1.5-hour drive via the A24 autobahn, with visitor parking near the palace. Public transport stops at "Rheinsberg, Schloss," and the town also has a regional train station; the Deutschlandticket is valid on regional services. Allow around three hours for the palace, museum and park.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you are interested in Prussian history or want a quieter alternative to Potsdam. The lakeside setting is beautiful in summer, and every summer since 1991 the Rheinsberg Chamber Opera festival has brought performances to the palace theater and courtyard.

Nearby

• Neuruppin: Theodor Fontane's hometown on Lake Ruppin, about 25 km south.
• Ruppin Lakeland: lakes and waterways ideal for canoeing and houseboat trips.