A summer weekend in Rheinsberg

A tour of the castle, a walk in the park, a boat trip and an evening of music: the holiday programme fills up quickly in Rheinsberg. The three of us spend a weekend in the small town on Lake Grienericksee and try to discover and experience as much as possible.

We arrive at the Seehotel Rheinsberg on Friday afternoon. It is the largest completely barrier-free hotel in Germany with wide corridors, modern and barrier-free rooms and a lakeside terrace - we realise as soon as we check in that everyone really is welcome here. And we plan a visit to the hotel's own vitality centre with swimming pool, sauna and fitness room for the evening.

Our first walk after arriving takes us to the tourist information centre, which is located in the heart of the small town, right at the entrance to the castle park. In addition to some interesting brochures and flyers, we also pick up the programme of the Rheinsberg Castle Chamber Opera. The international festival of young opera singers takes place here every year from June to August. Will we be able to agree on attending a performance?

Info: The tourist information centre is wheelchair-accessible and the reception counter is partially lowered to a height of 85 cm.

But first we walk through the streets of the historic old town. We stroll across Triangle Square to Church Square. We smile when we discover in Schlossstraße that two restaurants with similar names are directly opposite each other: ‘Zum Jungen Fritz’ and ‘Zum Alten Fritz’ - of course Rheinsberg refers to Frederick the Great, who spent his crown prince years here!

And we discover another celebrity on the façade of the neighbouring bookshop: ‘Kurt-Tucholsky-Buchhandlung’. The German writer made a name for himself with his story ‘Rheinsberg. A Picture Book for Lovers", the German writer created a literary monument to the town. It is no coincidence that the lower part of the castle houses the ‘Kurt Tucholsky Literature Museum’, the only one of its kind in Germany.

On the way back towards the lake, we cross the market square, where a fountain catches our attention. I wonder if the child in us will come through?

Info: The Kurt Tucholsky Literature Museum is partially accessible. It can be reached via a stair lift, and raised door thresholds in the interior are bevelled with wooden wedges. 

The next day begins with amazement: we walk from the hotel along the shore to the castle - and it blows us away! The colonnades, the two turrets, the beautifully landscaped park right on the lakeshore. You feel like a prince and princess here.

We start with a walk through the park, which nestles on the shore of Lake Grienerick. We are greeted by pretty flowerbeds and marble statues, wander through arcades and discover the burial pyramid of Prince Heinrich - the brother of the crown prince, who was given the palace and park as a gift after Frederick's coronation as Prussian king and remodelled them to suit his taste.

We then buy tickets for the palace museum in the coach house opposite. A lift takes us to the upper floor, from where we enter the exhibition rooms. It feels like travelling back in time to the 18th century and the lives of the Prussian princes.

Info: The staff will cater to the needs of guests on guided tours by prior arrangement and also offer special tours for people with limited mobility or blind people.

In the afternoon, we decide to take a tour on the excursion boat. And we realise that the view of the castle is even more beautiful from the water!

Thanks to the barrier-free excursion boat ‘MS Remus’ from the Halbeck shipping company - with a lift! - the three of us can even sit on the sun deck and enjoy the two-and-a-half-hour trip across the Rheinsberg lakes, which are connected by narrow, idyllic canals. The views of the green-blue landscape are marvellous and the captain entertains us so well that we completely forget the time.

Afterwards, we have fish sandwiches at the Radtke fishery's snack stand, right on the shore of the lake! We may not be by the sea - but we learn that even in the Ruppiner Seenland you can't avoid it. Fresh and from the region. Delicious!

We actually managed to reach an agreement: There will be a cultural programme in the evening! It won't be the opera in the Heckentheater, but an opera gala in the castle courtyard. And while the classical sounds echo through the colonnades out onto the lake, we enjoy the sunset, the chirping of the swallows that join in the singing and the overall atmosphere.

Info: Extra seats are provided in the front rows for wheelchair users. Both the Heckentheater and the castle courtyard are barrier-free. For performances in the castle theatre, wheelchair users can access the theatre via a barrier-free rear entrance, from where a lift takes guests into the theatre hall.

On Sunday, we borrow the hotel's own wheelbike from the Seehotel. With the practical bike, which has a detachable wheelchair at the front, the three of us are now on wheels. After a little practice, we manage to cycle in a relaxed manner - and we whizz northwards along the lakeshore.

On the way back, we discover Tucholsky once again: Café Tucholsky at Rheinsberg harbour serves us delicious cakes and good coffee. From the terrace, we watch the colourful hustle and bustle on the promenade and the boats swaying with the waves.

It was an all-round successful weekend! We review our experiences on the hotel's own jetty. Two sturdy wooden deckchairs and benches invite us to relax and enjoy the evening sun. And we realise that we will definitely be back. Because Rheinsberg has so much more to offer!

Experience Rheinsberg