Steintor

The Steintor is the most imposing of Bernau's three surviving medieval town gates and one of the best-preserved late Gothic brick gates in the whole of Brandenburg. Built around 1400, it stands at the eastern edge of the old town, its red-brick facade and square tower largely intact after more than six centuries. The gate also houses the Heimatmuseum, making it the natural starting point for any visit.

Climb through the museum's collection of medieval weaponry, brewing equipment, and a reconstructed 17th-century kitchen before ascending to the roof for a panoramic view over Bernau's rooftops and market square. The tower is open seasonally — see the Heimatmuseum listing for hours.

things to do sight historic site
A story
The Steintor was built around 1400, when Bernau was a prosperous brewing town whose beer was prized across the Brandenburg March. During the Hussite Wars, the town reportedly repelled attackers in 1432 by dousing them with boiling mash from the breweries — an event commemorated in a relief on the gate.

Other places in Things to Do