Ruhlsdorf: Fieldstone Church, Pig Museum and Röthepfuhl

Ruhlsdorf brings together medieval architectural history, museum exhibits and local recreation in one place. The fieldstone church, German Pig Museum and Röthepfuhl appeal to different interests: architectural details, a clearly defined subject and experiences of nature. When choosing a holiday apartment, first consider whether your trip will focus more on cultural history, museum subjects or time outdoors. This will help you assess Ruhlsdorf based on the experiences you actually want to include in your holiday days.

Fieldstone Church and Medieval Architectural History

The Ruhlsdorf Fieldstone Church is the oldest surviving building in the town. Its fieldstone construction and dressed granite blocks unmistakably point to the mid-13th century. Romanesque and early Gothic elements come together in this building. For architecture enthusiasts, this offers two useful perspectives: medieval construction methods and different art-historical forms. Further details inside the church mark other periods. The pulpit dates from 1594; remains of medieval painted decoration and three consecration crosses have also been preserved. The building thus brings together its original construction period, later furnishings and surviving traces of painted decoration. This combination makes the church a concrete point of interest for anyone who wants to appreciate historic architecture through more than a single feature.

Pig Museum: Breeding, Domestication and Food

The German Pig Museum in Ruhlsdorf displays more than 2,500 exhibits on pig breeding, domestication and food production. The subjects can be read as three distinct questions: How is an animal bred, how does domestication change its relationship with people, and what role does it play in food production? The museum therefore offers a different focus from the church: instead of architectural history, it centers on a clearly defined subject. If you want to combine several cultural interests, the church and museum offer two distinctly different perspectives on Ruhlsdorf—art-historical traces on the one hand, and animal husbandry and food production on the other.

The Ice Cellar as Another Historic Building

The Ruhlsdorf Ice Cellar adds another building to the cultural attractions: a round ice chamber with a diameter of three metres and a domed ceiling. It probably dates from the 18th century. Its shape and precise dimensions offer a clear contrast with the fieldstone church; the two buildings can be distinguished by their different forms and functions. While the church is classified as a religious building, the ice cellar’s name itself points to the storage of ice.

Röthepfuhl and Local Recreation

The Ruhlsdorf Röthepfuhl is a spot for local recreation where you can explore Teltow’s natural side. This adds another dimension to choosing where to visit: alongside architecture and museum subjects, experiencing nature is another possible holiday focus. Improvements completed at the end of 2023 included two large reclining benches, one of them a custom-built swivelling bench; two fixed benches with waste bins and a table tennis table were also added. Together, these features offer ways to sit or recline as well as to take an active break. As the facilities may change, check the current situation before visiting, especially if you want to use the table tennis table or a particular bench.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Karow, Karlshorst, Pankow, Steglitz, Kladow, Friedenau, Schmöckwitz, Velten.

Go to the main travel overview: Berlin.