Freienwalde

Schloss Freienwalde is a former Prussian royal palace and a memorial to the industrialist, contemporary critic, writer and politician Walther Rathenau (1867-1922). It was built in 1798/99 by David Gilly as a summer residence for Queen Friederike Luise of Prussia. The first royal villa building in Prussian architectural history reflected the queen's view of life and was predominantly furnished in the Louis Seize style. In addition to the palace itself, the restored 18th-century theatre pavilion of the Queen and the old castellan's house are located in the 11-hectare palace garden on the edge of Freienwald's old town. The upper floor of the castle houses the Walther Rathenau Memorial. Here, a permanent exhibition introduces visitors to the history of Freienwalde Castle and the life and work of Walther Rathenau.