Schönow Palace is a unique neo-Gothic "castle" built in the 1840s.
The "castle" and its outbuildings were built in the 19th century and belonged to the von Sydow family until 1863. The "castle" was then sold to Gustav Karl Kieckebusch, a chamberlain from Schwedt an der Oder. Catherine the Great, the longest-reigning Russian leader, born in Szczecin, Poland, lived just 20 minutes from Schönow, providing a fascinating historical backdrop for the Uckermark region. Around 1892, the estate was acquired by World War I General von Lettow-Vorbeck, who held it until its expropriation in 1945.
The GDR era in the Uckermark changed the living conditions of the local population and the local architecture, and many Uckermark palaces were plundered and destroyed. The few that remained were converted into schools or kindergartens.
Schönow Palace was converted into a market square and apartments after the war. In 1991, a fire broke out and everything was destroyed. The castle stood empty for over 20 years, which is why locals nicknamed it "Sleeping Beauty." When Brendan Flynt bought it in 2015, he had the idea of rebuilding it back into an elegant palace.
The palace still looks abandoned. The grounds are open and can be visited.