Discover Meyenburg

Town History and Architecture

Meyenburg was founded in the early 13th century in the upper reaches of the Stepenitz. The town and castle were first mentioned in a document in 1285, at the time under the name “Meyenborch”. This early reference applies to both the town and the castle. Three separate sections of the former town wall still remain—traces of a fortification that now survives only in sections.

The Evangelical Church in Meyenburg has a freestanding Neo-Gothic brick tower, built in 1848/50. “Freestanding” describes its structural position; the tower is also a distinctive example of 19th-century Neo-Gothic brick architecture. Together with the remnants of the wall and the town’s early written record, it makes for a tour through different layers of the town’s history, without relying on any one building to tell every chapter.

At the Fashion Museum & Meyenburg Castle Museum, visitors can learn about the aristocratic von Rohr family and the history of the town. Another exhibition at Meyenburg Castle Museum is devoted to the history of the Prignitz region in the 20th century. The life of a Prignitz resident runs like a thread through the exhibition. The focus thus shifts from local history to a regional topic.

The Castle Park: A Landscape Shaped in Several Stages

Around 1860, Meyenburg Castle Park was redesigned as an extensive English-style landscape park based on plans by the court gardener Fink. Historically, the park covered 30 Morgen, including a kitchen garden with greenhouses.

The park’s character is shaped by groups of trees and shrubs, winding paths, ponds and lawns, and individually planted tall deciduous trees. During restoration and redesign based on a plan by landscape architect Reinhard Schweizer, the original layout served as a guide. Park paths were relaid, benches installed and ponds cleared. The park’s design history thus brings together the English landscape park and later work that incorporated its paths and water features.

Things to See and Do and the Wider Region

The Hungerturm (Hunger Tower) is open to visitors as part of the local history museum and offers panoramic views. Check the latest visiting information before your visit. On the last Sunday of each month, Josefine Edle von Krepl guides visitors through the permanent exhibition at Meyenburg Castle’s Fashion Museum; it is also advisable to check the latest arrangements in advance. These two experiences offer different reasons to visit: the view from the tower and a guided tour of the permanent exhibition.

The Elbe-Müritz circular route is a long-distance cycle route that connects with Meyenburg. Check the latest route information before setting out. The Prignitz region has a designated 1,100-kilometre cycle network and 17 recommended cycling tours focused on regional sights and points of interest. The region also offers tours on the Elbe with wildlife watching for experienced paddlers in the biosphere reserve. Boat trips are available on lakes and on the Havel and Elbe rivers; there are also places to swim. Some boat services may be seasonal.

When choosing a holiday apartment, it helps to keep the different priorities in mind: Meyenburg offers opportunities to explore town history, architecture and park design, while cycling and water-based activities in the Prignitz provide a broader regional perspective. Choose your base according to which of these themes you want to shape your stay, and check specific tours or visitor experiences in advance.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Wittenberge, Gerdshagen, Groß Pankow, Lenzen, Weisen, Rühstädt, Eldenburg, Perleberg.

Back to the main travel overview: Prignitz.