Ziegeleipark Mildenberg
The Zehdenick brickworks district was the largest in Europe. Today it is a fantastic local recreation destination with a museum park in the middle of an idyllic nature reserve.
The chimneys in Mildenberg no longer smoke. Many tracks are now overgrown with grass. And where once noisy excavators rummaged, the field larch chirps over a peaceful biotope. What a change! For 100 years Mildenberg stood for dust, smoke, noise and hard work. Today the extensive area in the heart of an idyllic lake landscape is a wonderful local recreation destination. Experience here an invigorating combination of nature enjoyment and industrial culture!
At the end of the 19th century Berlin was bursting at the seams. Bricks were urgently needed. It was a good coincidence that large deposits of clay were found by chance during the construction of railway tracks near the village of Mildenberg, about 50 kilometres north of the capital. The brick rush began. Already at the turn of the century, more than 5,000 people were working here in the "Zehdenicker Revier". They produced several hundred million bricks annually. 100 ships brought the longed-for cuboids continuously to the booming metropolis. Even today, the houses in entire streets of Berlin are made of Mildenberg clay.
The era of brick production in Mildenberg ended in 1991. The clay pit was returned to nature. Protected area, museum park, marina, inn, camping site and adventure playground were created. The Mildenberg Brickworks Park was opened in 1997. Brandenburg had a new tourist lighthouse.
Explore one of the most important industrial heritage sites in Europe - on foot, by bike or in proper style with the light railway. Visit the original ring furnaces, authentic workplaces and the field railway exhibition. Learn about the difficult conditions of the workers during guided tours and in multimedia productions. Part of the old technology is brought to life: the old steam engine, for example, or the transmission-driven machines in the old workshops. And then let the eventful day end with good regional cuisine in the restaurant "Alter Hafen" on the Havel.
Tips:
Form bricks: Make your own personal clay brick under guidance using the traditional 'hand stroke method'.
Active recreation for families and children: bicycle, canoe and boat rental, adventure playground with giant slide, water rope ferry and small animal zoo as well as picnic area. Grill and other accessories can be purchased or reserved in advance at the Visitor Centre.
Ideally suited for rainy days: the exhibition "Bausteine für Berlin" in Ringofen III and the exhibition "Arbeiten im VEB" incl. cinema in Kesselhaus in the Maschinenziegelei.
Electricity filling station on the Ziegeleipark site near the visitor centre.
Extras:
Disabled access, Museum shop
The chimneys in Mildenberg no longer smoke. Many tracks are now overgrown with grass. And where once noisy excavators rummaged, the field larch chirps over a peaceful biotope. What a change! For 100 years Mildenberg stood for dust, smoke, noise and hard work. Today the extensive area in the heart of an idyllic lake landscape is a wonderful local recreation destination. Experience here an invigorating combination of nature enjoyment and industrial culture!
At the end of the 19th century Berlin was bursting at the seams. Bricks were urgently needed. It was a good coincidence that large deposits of clay were found by chance during the construction of railway tracks near the village of Mildenberg, about 50 kilometres north of the capital. The brick rush began. Already at the turn of the century, more than 5,000 people were working here in the "Zehdenicker Revier". They produced several hundred million bricks annually. 100 ships brought the longed-for cuboids continuously to the booming metropolis. Even today, the houses in entire streets of Berlin are made of Mildenberg clay.
The era of brick production in Mildenberg ended in 1991. The clay pit was returned to nature. Protected area, museum park, marina, inn, camping site and adventure playground were created. The Mildenberg Brickworks Park was opened in 1997. Brandenburg had a new tourist lighthouse.
Explore one of the most important industrial heritage sites in Europe - on foot, by bike or in proper style with the light railway. Visit the original ring furnaces, authentic workplaces and the field railway exhibition. Learn about the difficult conditions of the workers during guided tours and in multimedia productions. Part of the old technology is brought to life: the old steam engine, for example, or the transmission-driven machines in the old workshops. And then let the eventful day end with good regional cuisine in the restaurant "Alter Hafen" on the Havel.
Tips:
Form bricks: Make your own personal clay brick under guidance using the traditional 'hand stroke method'.
Active recreation for families and children: bicycle, canoe and boat rental, adventure playground with giant slide, water rope ferry and small animal zoo as well as picnic area. Grill and other accessories can be purchased or reserved in advance at the Visitor Centre.
Ideally suited for rainy days: the exhibition "Bausteine für Berlin" in Ringofen III and the exhibition "Arbeiten im VEB" incl. cinema in Kesselhaus in the Maschinenziegelei.
Electricity filling station on the Ziegeleipark site near the visitor centre.
Extras:
Disabled access, Museum shop