Getting to Rheinsberg in the north of Brandenburg might be a bit tricky in the winter. But, for the other three seasons you won’t have any trouble at all. What am I talking about? I guess it would help to start at the beginning.
Rheinsberg lies in a lake district about 100km north of the capital of Berlin, with frequent train service to and from the town. On some train lines, however, service doesn’t run to Rheinsberg in the wintertime. I guess you could always drive — use it as an excuse to rent a fine German car (you know, like an Audi or BMW — you get the picture).
All right, you’ve taken the train or rented a car to come to Rheinsberg. Now what?
Well, the biggest thing to see is the Rheinsberg Castle. Back in the Middle Ages it had a moat (how cliche, right, a castle with a moat). It was heavily damaged during the Thirty Years’ War, then rebuilt in the Renaissance style Burg you see before you.
What you’ll see at the castle is a monument to Crown Prince Frederick, and its gardens, courtyard, and theater are the stie of festivals (including an Opera Festival). Imagine how lovely that would be, listening to an opera in a real-life castle. (For us book reading folks, part of the castle houses a literary museum.)
Another museum in Rheinsberg is a Ceramics Museum. It might not be up your alley, but hey… you might learn something interesting.
Wanna know something else interesting about Rheinsberg? It’s home to the highest inland lighthouse in all of Germany! Interesting fact, yes? Oh, and there’s the 18th century watchtower built by the town’s Prince Henry, called the Wartturm.
As far as festivals go, summer’s the best time to come. The Rheinsberger Fest is on Whitsunday and has been since the town started the annual tradition back in 1948.
Then there are the summer music concerts held at the church of St. Laurentius. Yeah, don’t forget to see that while you’re here, too. Who wouldn’t want to miss seeing a gorgeous 13th century church? Right outside the church is memorial to the fallen soldiers of World War I.
World War II doesn’t go unnoticed here in Rheinsberg, either. There’s a plaque in memory of the dead who died here in town on a death march from the Sachenhausen Concentration Camp in April 1945.
After all that sightseeing and history studying, let’s take a deep breath and relax in one of the numerous saunas and spa centers in town. Yes, Rheinsberg is one of those nationally recognized spa towns without official title (i.e., the “Bad” in the town’s name).
Whatever your reasons for coming to Rheinsberg, and whatever mode of transportation you use to get here, you’re gonna love it. Now if someone could just remind me where I parked my Audi… ;-)
