The Prussian royal castle Schloss Freienwalde was built in the classicist style by David Gilly in 1798/99, as a summer residence for the Prussian Queen Friederike Luise. In 1909, it was bought by Walter Rathenau, an industrialist, critic of his times, writer and foreign secretary of the Weimar Republic. The Jewish politician had the building refurbished and he occasionally lived and worked here until he was killed in 1922. The memorial exhibition on the upper floor of the castle is dedicated to the life and work of one of the most important German politicians of the 20th century. In addition to alternating special exhibitions, the history of the former royal summer residence Freienwalde is presented on the castle’s ground floor.
