Brandenburg

Brandenburg

Often overshadowed by the vibrant capital city it surrounds, Brandenburg offers a serene and surprisingly fun escape for the road tripper. This is the land of the legendary Alleen: the country roads canopied by tunnels of ancient oak and linden trees that filter the sunlight as you drive. The landscape is a mix of sandy pine forests, rolling fields and over 3,000 glittering lakes. You can switch from imperial grandeur to wild nature in less than an hour. A short drive takes you to Potsdam, where Prussian palaces and manicured gardens rival those of Versailles. After that you can head deep into the Spreewald, a biosphere reserve where roads give way to a maze of river canals. The routes here connect sleepy red-brick villages, manor houses and beautiful nature like the Uckermark. It is a region that wants you to park the car and breathe. Whether you are stopping at a roadside stand for the famous local gherkins or watching cranes fly over the lakes at sunset, the atmosphere is grounded and unhurried. Brandenburg is the green lung of eastern Germany. It's a place where the journey is defined by calmness and the simple pleasure of a tree-lined horizon.

Brandenburg highlights

Part of these road trips

Follow the routes that cross this destination

The Scenic Route
The Heritage Drive
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History of Brandenburg

Originally established as the Northern March in the 10th century to secure the Holy Roman Empire’s border against Slavic tribes, it remained a relatively poor and overlooked region for centuries. Its destiny changed forever in 1415, when the Hohenzollern family was granted the territory. This dynasty would go on to rule from Berlin for over 500 years. Brandenburg became the heart of the Prussian state, with Potsdam serving as the intellectual and cultural counterweight to the military precision of Berlin. This era left behind the stunning palaces and gardens of Sanssouci. After World War II, the Prussian state was formally abolished by the Allies, and Brandenburg became part of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), surrounding the divided city of Berlin. For decades, it served as the industrial and agricultural engine of East Germany. Following German Reunification in 1990, the state of Brandenburg was re-established, reclaiming its historic identity. It successfully transitioned from a heavy industrial hub into a region known for its protected nature, renewable energy and tourism.
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