Brandenburg

Unique cultural landscape: the Spree Woods

Nowadays Brandenburg, with the autonomous state of Berlin at its centre, is a forward-looking region in a united Europe – with close ties to neighbouring Poland.

In the wake of German reunification, Brandenburg, formerly divided into the districts of Cottbus, Frankfurt (Oder) and Potsdam during the GDR era, came into being as a federal state in 1990.

Rolling out the red carpet for ideas

For many years lignite mining, steel production and the chemicals industry dominated the economy. In recent years these have gradually made way for innovative branches, such as automobile manufacturing, the energy sector or the media and ICT industry.

Brandenburg, a research hub

A series of biotechnology companies and research institutes have set up shop in the region around Potsdam.

Potsdam-Babelsberg enjoys international renown as a media city. Many chapters of film history were written in the Babelsberg film studios from 1912 on. The Film and Television University (HFF) “Konrad Wolf”, also based here, boasts a long, solid tradition.

The HFF is just one fine example of Brandenburg’s diverse range of higher education institutions imbued with a genuinely international outlook, which also includes three universities and five specialised technical colleges run by the Federal State of Brandenburg. Students from over 80 different countries are enrolled at the European University Viadrina, located right on the border with Poland. Founded in 1991, this university explicitly seeks to strengthen links across Europe.

Cultural heritage and biospheres

Brandenburg’s motorway network makes it an important transit state for trade with Eastern Europe. Turning off the main transport arteries, a vast network of old-style tree-lined roads runs through Brandenburg. With a total length of over 12,000 kilometres, these roads lead to more than 500 palaces, mansions, castles and monasteries.

Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam

Much of the architecture and many of the parks in Potsdam, erstwhile residence of the Prussian kings and now state capital of Brandenburg, appear on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List, including the famous Sanssouci Palace.

Cottbus’ State Theatre is an unusual cultural highlight. It combines opera, theatre, ballet and an orchestra in one ensemble.

Cottbus, together with Bautzen in Saxony, is also the political and cultural centre of the Sorbs, a West Slavic people and an officially recognised minority. Sorbian traditions are still alive today, in particular in the Spree Woods region. This unique landscape of river meadows and moorland is crisscrossed by hundreds of canals and is Brandenburg’s best-known holiday destination.

Service

• Address, contact information
• Contact