It is believed that a Germanic wooden castle existed at the end of the 12th century and was used to support the Wettin dynasty in their policy of expansion towards Köpenick, Barnim and Lebus. The castle was first mentioned in 1209 in a document issued by Holy Roman Emperor Otto IV.

After the Wettins were defeated in the Teltow War (1239-1245), a stone castle was constructed as a defence against the Ascanians of Brandenburg. The Old Castle, the south wall and the dungeon tower, all dating from the second half of the 13th century, survive to the present day. Around 1250, the influential Lords of Strele were also made Lords of Beeskow-Storkow, ordering the construction of two further castles, at Beeskow and Friedland, and setting in motion the cultivation and settlement of the land. On 13 March 1384, the Lords of Biberstein assumed control of the territory and the castle became an administrative centre.

Bishop Dietrich von Bülow acquired the Lordship of Beeskow-Storkow for the Bishops of Lebus on 15 June 1518. Around 1520, von Bülow ordered the conversion of the Old Castle into an episcopal residence.

On 15 February 1556, the Lordship of Beeskow-Storkow fell to Margrave John of Brandenburg-Küstrin. He supervised the construction of the Renaissance castle (manor). Originally, the building had an extra storey and was thus one of the oldest and largest preserved Renaissance castles in Brandenburg. In 1655, Storkow Castle was mortgaged to major general Margarethe von Lange, who ordered the construction of the council offices and a new entrance gate. The council offices burned down in 1775 and the Renaissance castle lost its second floor.

From 1769 to 1820, Storkow Castle served as the seat of the local council under Councillor Bütow. For a short time, the Old Castle was used as a brewery, before severe settlement damage saw the castle tower having to be torn down some time before 1840. In 1899, the town of Storkow purchased the castle from the royal exchequer, before it changed hands again in 1910, this time for 25,000 marks to the Berlin-based architect Emil Schaudt, who commissioned renovation work. In 1934, the Youth Hostel Association, the new owners of the castle, had it converted into a “Jugendburg”, or “young people’s castle”. A half-timbered house was built to accommodate members of the Hitler Youth being “educated” here.

The town hall of Storkow burned down at the end of the Second World War, so the new municipal administration was based in the castle. It was followed by the local police station, classrooms and school kitchens, a sewing workshop, swimming baths, the employment office and later the “Station Junger Techniker”, a scientific and technical education centre for young people under the GDR. The building was renovated in 1965.

On 16 December 1978, the manor was entirely burned out along with the municipal administration that was based within it. It was only in 1999 that the rebuilding of the castle could begin thanks to the support of the Brandenburg state government  and EU funds. Three construction phases saw the building completely renovated. In time for the 800th anniversary celebrations of the first mention of the town of Storkow and its castle, the castle grounds were made available for use and could host attractive exhibitions.

For further information download the castle information sheet.