A lakeside Rococo palace where crown prince Frederick lived from 1736-1740, immersed in music and Enlightenment philosophy before his accession.
King Frederick William I gave Rheinsberg to his son, the future Frederick the Great, in 1734, and the crown prince spent four years here from 1736 remodeling the existing castle into a Rococo residence with architect Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff, who would later design Sanssouci. Away from his stern father's court, Frederick surrounded himself with musicians, philosophers, and correspondence with Voltaire, later describing this period as the happiest of his life. His accession to the throne in 1740 ended the Rheinsberg years, though the palace remained in Hohenzollern family use for later princes. After German reunification, the palace was restored following decades of use as a GDR-era diabetes clinic.
| Admission | €8 (~$9) adult |
|---|---|
| Hours | Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00 (Apr-Oct), 10:00-16:00 (Nov-Mar) |
| Address | Schlossstrasse, 16831 Rheinsberg, Germany |
Why it matters
Where the future Frederick the Great spent what he later called the happiest years of his life before becoming king
Site facts
- Built
- Expanded 1734-1740 for Crown Prince Frederick
- Architect
- Johann Gottfried Kemmeter, Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff
- Style
- Rococo
- UNESCO listing
- No
Weather through the year in Germany
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Germany.
Location
Schlossstrasse, 16831 Rheinsberg, Germany
53.0967, 12.8967 View on map
Highlights
- Frederick's private crown-prince apartments, 1736-1740
- Domed corner tower rooms overlooking the Grienericksee
- Later restoration after decades of GDR-era institutional use
Tips for visiting
- Start in Frederick's crown-prince apartments, the best-preserved rooms in the palace
- Climb the corner tower rooms for the best view over the Grienericksee lake
- The palace is less crowded than Sanssouci, making weekday afternoons a good time to visit
- Combine the visit with a boat trip on the adjacent lake in summer
- A full visit to the state rooms takes around 60-90 minutes
When to visit
Late spring through early autumn for the lakeside gardens.
Accessibility
Ground-floor state rooms accessible via a side entrance; tower rooms reached only by stairs.
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Frequently asked questions
How does Rheinsberg relate to Frederick the Great's later life?
It was his residence as crown prince before he became king in 1740 and later built Sanssouci, and he described his years at Rheinsberg as his happiest.