Nennhausen is located in the Westhavelland Nature Park and combines palace and literary history with a publicly accessible park and nature attractions in the Havelland. There is a stop on the regional railway line between Rathenow, Berlin and Cottbus. As schedules may change, check the connection before travelling. When choosing accommodation, a simple question can help: should the focus be on the historic sites in the town, or also on nature experiences in the surrounding area?

Palace Park and Literary Traces

Nennhausen Palace was built in 1737 and is a listed building. It is privately owned and in use; concerts and readings are also held there regularly. If you would like to attend an event, check the dates and relevant access information in advance. The palace park is open to the public and laid out in the English landscape style; check current access information before your visit.

A walk through Nennhausen Landscape Park takes you past ceramic portrait medallions and quotations. Figures representing Undine and Effi Briest are among the motifs there. The park thus combines literary references with the design of an English landscape garden. Friedrich Baron de la Motte Fouqué lived in Nennhausen from 1802 to 1833 and wrote the fairy tale Undine. The literary connection is therefore present not only in the figures along the walk, but is also part of the town’s history.

The Church and the Old Gardener’s House

Nennhausen Church is a rectangular fieldstone hall church with plastered walls. A large epitaph is located on its south wall. The church has a crypt that is more than 300 years old; a mummy in a zinc coffin is also on display. Visits are possible by appointment arranged by phone. Confirm the appointment in advance before planning a visit to the church.

The Old Gardener’s House was built around 1719 and is the oldest surviving residential building in the region. Two of its rooms house an exhibition about Romanticism and Fouqué’s life in Nennhausen. In contrast to the park’s motifs, the focus here is on the historic residential building and the exhibition. Together with the church, it offers another way to explore the town’s history, this time through architecture, memorabilia and literature.

Birdwatching and the Havelland Landscape

The great bustard nature reserve around Buckow near Nennhausen offers opportunities for birdwatching in open fen meadows. This is different from the landscaped palace park: here, the open countryside and birdwatching are the focus of the nature experience. The forests between Nennhausen, Stechow, Kotzen and Ferchesar are suitable for hiking, horseback riding and cycling.

The Havelländisches Luch is considered one of the last intact lowland moor landscapes in Central Europe. In the Havelland, wetlands, moorland and sandy soils provide an appealing setting for nature experiences on foot or by bicycle. Those who prefer activities on the water can find opportunities for water sports, fishing and swimming at nearby Lake Ferchesar. Alongside Nennhausen’s cultural sites, the surrounding region therefore offers a range of nature experiences: open fen meadows for birdwatching, forests for activities on foot, horseback or by bike, and the lake with its water sports and swimming facilities.

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