Oranienburg: Palace, Memorial and Cycle Routes

Oranienburg has two major highlights: its Baroque palace and the Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum at the historic site. There are also several cycle routes connecting Oranienburg with cultural and landscape routes. This means there is something for everyone, from courtly art and engaging with history to exploring by bike.

Baroque Palace and Art in the Museum

Oranienburg Palace is one of the most significant Baroque buildings in the Mark Brandenburg region. Within the wider Oberhavel travel destination, it is considered the oldest Baroque palace in the Mark Brandenburg region. Among other things, the palace museum displays paintings that include masterpieces by the Flemish artist Anthonis van Dyck, as well as selected examples of royal ceremonial silver in the Silver Vault. The paintings and courtly silver offer different ways to explore the collections. Visitors interested in art and palace history will find a clear cultural focus for their stay here.

Remembrance at the Historic Site

The Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum commemorate, at the historic site, the history of Sachsenhausen concentration camp (1936–1945), Soviet Special Camp No. 1/7 (1945–1950), and the establishment of the National Memorial and Museum (1945–1961). Thirteen permanent exhibitions can be visited in the camp’s surviving buildings. Each exhibition’s thematic focus is linked to the corresponding location. The memorial also offers an extensive educational programme for museum visitors. This focus is markedly different from that of the palace museum: here, the history of the site and remembrance are central.

Cycle Routes with Different Itineraries

Oranienburg also offers several starting points for a cycling trip. The 300 km Regional Park Route “Around Berlin” runs through the city area, coming from Leegebruch and passing through Eden to the palace, then through the centre and onwards via the Lehnitz Lock to Schmachtenhagen and Wensickendorf. The approximately 300 km Fontane Cycle Route begins in Oranienburg and leads through Brandenburg, following in the footsteps of the poet and thinker Theodor Fontane.

The 50 km Dutchmen’s Circular Route connects Oranienburg and Liebenwalde. The 215 km Lakes and Culture Cycle Route is a circular route in the Ruppiner Land region and connects Neuruppin, Rheinsberg and Oranienburg, among other places. The Historic Town Centres Cycle Route 2 runs right past the palace; it is a circular route between Gransee and Kremmen. When planning your route, you can therefore compare not only the distances but also the itineraries: whether they start in Oranienburg, pass through the city area, include the palace or connect other towns.

Guided Tours to Suit Your Interests

The Oranienburg tourism portal offers a range of themed tours as well as individually bookable tours for groups, families or individuals. Tours are available on foot, by bicycle or by bus. This offers different ways to explore the city; which themed tour suits your stay depends on whether you want to focus on cultural history or exploring as you go.

In the Wider Oberhavel Travel Destination

Looking at Oberhavel also opens up a regional perspective: Oberhavel is part of the Ruppiner Seenland tourism region. The 66 Lakes Hiking Trail and the European long-distance path E 10 cross the district. These hiking routes complement the cycle routes with another way to explore the region, while the palace and memorial shape Oranienburg’s cultural focus.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Friedrichsthal, Lehnitz, Großwoltersdorf, Liebenwalde, Schönermark, Liebenberg, Glienicke/Nordbahn and Zehdenick.

Back to the regional travel overview: Oberhavel.