SCHLOSSMUSEUM ORANIENBURG
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A former Baroque castle with elegant white facades, once used as a cotton factory, school, SS barracks..
Oranienburg Castle is one of these prestigious buildings of the Prussian aristocracy and is the oldest Baroque castle in Brandenburg. With its elegant white facades, harmonious proportions, its location on the Havel and its charming park, it is a pleasant day trip.
A hunting castle had existed here since the 13th century, but Oranienburg is the work of the wife of the Elector Frederick William I of Brandenburg (known as "the Great Elector"), Louise-Henriette of Orange (Oranien in German, hence the name of the castle and the town). In 1652, in love with art and pomp, the princess had the building transformed into a Dutch-style castle (the princess was originally from The Hague). The architect Johann Gregor Memhardt is the father of the castle. In 1688, under Frederick III, Louise-Henriette's son, Oranienburg reached its heyday: the king had the castle converted into a Baroque building, which was to be a pioneer of its kind in Prussia. In the course of its eventful history, Oranienburg was still a cotton factory, a school, an SS barracks, etc. The castle suffered heavy losses during the bombardments of 1944-1945; but its exterior was completely restored in 1954, and the interior renovated in 1997.
Today, it is mainly family portraits (of the Great Elector and Louise-Henriette d'Orange) that are displayed in the west wing of the castle. All panels are in German.
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