A fieldstone basilica dating from before 1250 and a tree-lined village green give Hohenfinow a distinctly historic character. The municipality is one of Brandenburg’s ten historic village centres. At the same time, Hohenfinow and its districts of Karlswerk and Struwenberg lie among fields, meadows and woodland on the edge of the Barnim region. A visit here brings architectural history and rural landscapes together.
Village Green and Rural Surroundings
The four-row, tree-lined village green stretches from the former castle towards the church. You can stroll beneath the old lime trees; the green provides a clear route between these two local landmarks. The former castle was a two-storey building. It was damaged in 1945 and demolished around 1961. Thus, features that remain in the village, such as the green and the church, stand in contrast to the history of the castle that no longer exists. The landscape is also part of Hohenfinow’s character: fields, meadows and woodland surround the village and its districts on the edge of the Barnim region.
The Fieldstone Church: Architecture and History
The village church was built before 1250 as a three-aisled fieldstone basilica. Its structure includes a west tower, a choir and a semicircular apse. “Three-aisled” describes the division of the church interior; the apse forms the rounded end of the choir. After being destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War, the church was rebuilt on a smaller scale. Its historic wall paintings from 1910 have shone with renewed splendour since 2004. Carved fieldstones at the ends of the arcade pillars form capital-like elements. The striking fieldstone construction thus sits alongside finely crafted details. The restored church invites you to take a look inside. Check whether entry is possible before your visit.
Cemetery and Brewing Culture
A surviving burial chapel stands in the Hohenfinow cemetery; the grave of Bethmann-Hollweg is also located there. A stroll to the cemetery adds another historic site to your visit to the village church. The Barnimer Brauhaus represents another aspect of local history: it brews regional beer in Hohenfinow/Struwenberg. Its traditionally brewed range includes Landbier, Festbier and Pils. Bottled and draught beer are sold at the brewery yard. If you would like to take some beer with you, check the current selection in advance.
Hohenfinow and the Wider Barnim Travel Destination
The wider Barnim travel destination offers regional activities such as cycling in Barnim Nature Park, hiking in the Schorfheide and relaxing at numerous swimming lakes. The “Rund um die Schorfheide” circular hiking trail is 143 kilometres long and passes through Barnim Nature Park. The 66-Seen-Wanderweg also runs through the area on stages 4 to 6. These excursion and hiking options belong to the wider region and should be distinguished from Hohenfinow’s village character.
Discover more destinations: Bernau Bei Berlin, Parsteinsee, Lunow-Stolzenhagen, Liepe, Friedrichswalde, AlthĂĽttendorf, Breydin, Melchow
To the wider travel overview: Barnim.
