Schönhausen House
There is no other Prussian castle where the layers of German history can be read as closely as in Schönhausen.
The castle was the summer residence of the Prussian Queen Elisabeth Christine from 1740 to 1797. During the National Socialist era, Schönhausen was used as a central depot for so-called "degenerate art", which was sold abroad for foreign exchange. After the Second World War, the castle initially served as the official residence of the GDR president. And in 1964 it became the guest house of the GDR government.
In addition to personal guided tours, visitors also have access to tours with an audio guide (German/English) in easy language as well as a video guide in German sign language.
Certified in the period
November 2023 - October 2026
Barrier-free information
All areas relevant for testing meet the quality criteria of the label "Accessibility certified - accessible for people with walking disabilities and partially accessible for wheelchair users".
Some information on accessibility are listed below. For detailed information please see the evaluation report.
- There is no parking lot available. There is a parking lot on the left in front of the west gate in Tschaikowskistraße, which cannot be used at the time of the survey (Nov. 2023) and in the coming years due to a construction site. People with reduced mobility may be driven to the entrance and exit right up to the castle.
- Some of the paths in the palace garden are not easy to walk on and drive on. There is seating available.
- The palace is steplessly accessible (treshold of 2 cm).
- All evaluated rooms and facilities available to the guests are accessible at ground level or via an elevator.
- The elevator cabin measures 108 cm x 140 cm. The elevator door is 90 cm wide.
- Almost all evaluated passageways/doors available to the guests are at least 90 cm wide. Exceptions: Some doors in the permanent exhibition are narrower than 90 cm. However, the rooms in question are not part of the tour or can also be viewed from outside. The special exhibition on the 2nd floor is accessible via an 80 cm wide passageway. The doors to the WCs are 85 cm wide.
- The cash desk is at its lowest point 75 cm high.
- Seating is available in the exhibition.
- The exhibits are predominately visible when seated and the information is predominately readable when seated.
- People with walking impairments and wheelchair users can participate in every tour. Mobile or fixed seats are available, which may be used during the guided tour. The entire route of the guided tour is stepless.
- offered aids: rollator, walking stick, wheelchair, folding stools
Public toilet for people with disabilities (ground floor)
- The manoeuvring spaces are:
in front of the door 133 cm x 164 cm;
in front of the toilet and the washbasin 200 cm x 145 cm;
left of the toilet 86 cm x 70 cm and right of the toilet 78 cm x 70 cm. - There are grab rails available on the right and left of the toilet. The grab rails can be flipped-up.
- The sink is wheelchair compatible.
- The mirror can be seen while standing or sitting.
- An alarm trigger is available.
Evaluation report: Download as PDF
All areas relevant for testing meet the quality criteria of the label "Accessibility certified - partially accessible for deaf people".
Some information on accessibility are listed below. For detailed information please see the evaluation report.
- There is no clearly visible alarm. In case of an alarm, the staff walks through all rooms.
- An outgoing emergency call in the elevator is confirmed audibly.
- There is no audio induction loop system.
- The information on the exhibits is provided in writing. There are some films and a video guide in German sign language.
Evaluation report: Download as PDF
All areas relevant for testing meet the quality criteria of the label "Accessibility certified - partially accessible for people with visual impairments and blind people".
Some information on accessibility are listed below. For detailed information please see the evaluation report.
- Assistance dogs are allowed in relevant areas/rooms.
- External paths usually have visually contrasting sidewalk boundaries.
- The entrance to the palace is neither visually rich in contrast nor recognizable by a tactile change of floor covering.
- All evaluated and usable areas for the guest are well illuminated, i.e. bright and glare-free.
- There are no visually contrasting or tactilely detectable floor indicators available.
- The signage is designed in clearly legible and contrasting font.
- An outgoing emergency call in the elevator is confirmed audibly. The break position is announced by spoken commands. The operating controls are visually rich in contrast and tactilely detectable.
- Steps are not visually rich in contrast. Stairs have at least a handrail on one side.
- The information on the exhibits is provided in writing and is visually rich in contrast. There are some films as well as an audio guide in German and English.
- Information is not available in Braille or prismatic font.
- People with visual impairments and blind people can participate in every tour, but please be accompanied. Tactilely detectable exhibits are integrated in the guided tour.
Evaluation report: Download as PDF
Some information on accessibility are listed below. For detailed information please see the evaluation report.
- The objectives of the paths are always within sight or signs in visible distance are available.
- The information on the exhibits is provided in writing. There are some films as well as an audio guide in easy language.
Evaluation report: Download as PDF
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Schönhausen House
Schönhausen House