Historic château and meditation center near Schwante, Brandenburg, Germany.
Schloss Sommerswalde is a historic château near Schwante, Oberkrämer, Brandenburg, Germany. Built between 1888 and 1891 by Richard Sommer, it features neo-Gothic and classical architecture. The estate now houses the Kadampa Meditation Center, offering Buddhist studies and retreats. The park is open to the public.
Schloss Sommerswalde is a historic château located near Schwante in Oberkrämer, Brandenburg, Germany, about 25 kilometers from Berlin. Constructed between 1888 and 1891, it was commissioned by Friedrich August Richard Sommer, a descendant of Carl August Heinrich Sommer, after whom Sommerstraße in Berlin is named. The château was designed by Berlin architects Hans Abesser and Jürgen Kröger, featuring a main house inspired by Paul Wallot's plans for the Reichstag building. The estate includes an orangery with oriental influences, a red town hall (formerly a stable), and a forester’s house. Initially serving as a family residence for the Sommer and Lübbert families, it later became a Soviet military command post and an FDJ school after World War II. Since 2008, it has housed the Kadampa Meditation Center "Tharpaland," offering Buddhist studies, retreats, and courses. The park is open to the public from sunrise to sunset, and the main house is accessible on weekends. A café operates in the garden hall on weekends and holidays. The château's restoration earned the Brandenburg Monument Preservation Prize in 2010. Visitors can contact the center for more information or visit during special events.
