The town of Sögel might be a health resort town, but if you’re looking for something a bit more historical — you’ve found it, buddy!
Sögel is famous because it lies along the Straße der Megalithkultur (Route of Megalithic Culture). More than 41 prehistoric graves and mounds have been found in the area, and the Königsgrab (King’s Grave) has been called one of the most beautiful. They’re all beautiful, honestly. How could they not be, they’ve been hanging around for a few thousand years.
Speaking of beautiful, the Schloss Clemenswerth is a sight to behold. It was once a Baroque hunting lodge, but it’s spoke & wheel design are truly unique.
From the lodge’s center you can see the castle’s 8 outbuildings that were once guesthouses and farm buildings, there’s even a castle chapel where Chaupin monks still live. The complex is now a museum where anyone can visit — not just under the invitation of Clemens I, the duke who built it.
I’m a sucker for German castles, but in this case I fell in love with the Batak-Haus. No, it isn’t medieval, it isn’t Baroque, heck it isn’t even European in design. It’s Sumatran. A priest built this raised platform dwelling, and under its steep triangular roof is a museum.
Let’s see, what else does Sögel have? Oh, how about visiting its old Water Mill and the Hüvener Mühle (a windmill from 1801 that replaced a mid-16th century original)? Or, maybe you’d rather see the former Sheep Barn, a true look at Sögel’s agricultural beginnings.
Located in another barn is the Hümmlinger Teestube, or as everyone knows it: the Local History Museum. The Heimathof is another farming building, and a good way to see a real 19th century countryhouse.
It’s amazing how many millennia are spanned here in Sögel, and I can’t really think of too many other places where you can go from prehistoric megaliths to Sumatra. Can you?