Castles and gardens in all shapes and sizes create the impressive setting for each visit to Brandenburg. In and around Potsdam alone, visitors can view 77 castles and palaces with expansive landscape gardens. Since 1997, Potsdam's culture landscape with Sanssouci Castle and Park have been declared part of the world's cultural heritage by the UNESCO. Evidence of Brandenburg's architectural history are to be found throughout the entire region: Over 500 castles and mansions were built here, not to mention convents and monasteries dating from different periods and located in idyllic surroundings. For example, Neuzelle monastery near the river Oder is an impressive example of Baroque landscape architecture: lt is considered to be one of the few remaining examples of Cistercian architecture.

The noble class also found delight in rural country life and this led to the erection of castles and country manors at sites where nature had formed particularly idyllic landscapes. Today, the castles in Rheinsberg and Paretz, Caputh and Oranienburg, for example, are popular destinations for excursions. A thirst for knowledge and relaxation can be easily satisfied here. Visitors can also enjoy cultural events in the castles and gardens, whilst the parks entice visitors to saunter along splendid pathways.

Brandenburg is famous for its landscape architecture. Same of the most famous landscape architects created sensational parks: For example, Hermann Fürst von Pückler-Muskau designed Branitzer Park near Cottbus with its impressive pyramids, one of the most famous landscape parks inspired by the English school of landscape architecture. Peter Joseph Lenné was not only involved in the shaping of Neuer Garten and Park Babelsberg in Potsdam; other examples of his art can be found throughout the district - from the royal palace to the country residence. The castle grounds of Neuhardenberg in Märkisch-Oderland, for example, as weIl as Reckahn and Marquardt in Havelland are small jewels of historical landscape architecture. Lenné also adorned the castles of Petzow, Steinhöfel and Fürstlich Drehna with picturesque parks. These sculptured landscapes are an invitation to discover that.