Neustrelitz is planning a new castle tower: A look at the history of democracy!

Neustrelitz is planning a new castle tower: A look at the history of democracy!

Neustrelitz, Deutschland - On Monday evening, July 16, 2025, a pioneering concept for the reconstruction of the Neustrelitz Schlossturm was presented in the Mecklenburg-Strelitz cultural district. The managing director of Musealis GmbH, Andreas Feddersen, presented the assembled participants various illustrations by the designer Matthias Seifert. This presentation attracted around 100 interested parties to the Schlossberg Conference, where the exciting ideas for using this historical building were up for discussion. Unfortunately, the comprehensive usage concept, which includes a total of 74 pages, remains behind closed doors in the Neustrelitz town hall.

The planned castle tower has a clearly defined museum topic: the history of democracy, especially with a focus on Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The presentation contained various exhibition levels that are intended to clearly present the historical development of democracy. The ground floor will serve as a publicly accessible reception area without entry costs, while the upper levels are to be used for the respective exhibition. The lookout floor on the fifth floor also promises impressive views of the Schlosspark and the city panorama Neustrelitz.

The exhibition levels in detail

A total of four exhibition levels will take visitors on a journey through time through the development of democracy in Mecklenburg-Strelitz:

  • Exhibition level 1: roots of democracy (until 1918)
    The early democratic movements of the 19th century are discussed here. Interactive “stage boxes” enable visitors to discover democratic values through significant historical events.
  • Exhibition level 2: Democratic Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1918 to 1933)
    This level is devoted to the most turbulent phase of young democracy and is designed like a temporary parliament with acoustic productions and interactive elements.
  • Exhibition level 3: dictatorship and democracy in the 20th century
    Here the dismantling of democratic structures during National Socialism and the GDR are examined. Visitors can choose between two paths that illustrate the differences between the authoritarian systems.
  • Exhibition level 4: The laboratory of democracy
    This forum for reflection and participation focuses on future questions about democracy and invites visitors to actively participate in democratic processes.

An additional highlight represents the planning of a "democratic laboratory", which is to be implemented on the fourth floor with interactive stations. The “yellow hall” of the Neustrelitz Castle will also rise again in a small form. The exhibitions will take an area of 200 square meters and make sure that visitors can not only look but also participate - in the sense of interactive experiences.

open questions and future challenges

Despite the optimistic plans, many questions are still open. Historian Bernd Kasten will speak for election campaigns and political violence in Mecklenburg from 1930 to 1933, while journalist Andreas Frost will present the first democratically elected politician, Erna Weiland. Also the statements of Henry Tesch, who demands a decision from the city from the Mecklenburg Foundation, as well as the new city president Max Odebrecht, who emphasizes the need for a clear decision, throw a shadow on the future design of the project.

The concept for the Neustrelitz Schlossturm could very well be a cultural highlight of the region, but also harbors the challenges associated with integration into existing exhibitions in the cultural district. It remains to be seen whether and how this will be implemented. For interested parties who want to learn more about the planned content, the German Historical Museum provides the IDA platform, among other things, that offers teaching materials free of charge and enables it to deal with the story creatively, which could be particularly promising for future museum work here . .

So it remains exciting in Neustrelitz. The reconstruction of the castle tower could not only become an architectural landmark, but also a place of learning and encounter, which brings the democratic roots of the region alive in a vivid way. Those responsible only have a good hand if they also include the voice of the citizens - one thing is clear: there is no way around the decision to build the castle tower.

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OrtNeustrelitz, Deutschland
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