Ziegeleipark Mildenberg

About Ziegeleipark Mildenberg

Ziegeleipark Mildenberg is an industrial monument and adventure park on the former brickworks site in Zehdenick (district of Mildenberg) in Brandenburg, around one hour north of Berlin. Brick production at the site began in 1887, after rich clay deposits had been discovered during construction of the Löwenberg–Templin railway line. In 1910, production volumes of 625 million building bricks per year were achieved in 57 Hoffmann ring kilns, making the area one of the largest contiguous brickmaking regions in Europe. After 1945 the operation was run as a state-owned enterprise and was last part of VEB Kombinat Bau- und Grobkeramik Halle; the brickworks operation was discontinued in 1991. Today, visitors can tour authentic ring kilns and machine halls, shape their own bricks at the clay preparation tables, take part in daily rides on the brickworks railway and attend technology-related events. The park is an Anchor Point of the European Route of Industrial Culture (ERIH) and a stop on the German Clay Road; the site also includes two charter harbours on the Havel as well as facilities for conferences, events and weddings.

Site

Zehdenick (district of Mildenberg)

Processes

Guided tours and group trips, Brickworks railway rides, Brick making (shaping bricks), Weddings / wedding venues, Conferences and events, Two charter harbours (water tourism)

Materials

Clay

Founded

1887 (Begi

Industries

Tourism / leisure, Industrial monument / museum

1. 01

   Clay extraction (clay pit)

2. 02

   Processing and shaping (hand-moulded to extrusion press)

3. 03

   Drying in drying sheds

4. 04

   Firing in Hoffmann ring kilns

5. 05

   Shipping by barge on the Havel

Brick Production & Technology

Location

History

1. 1887

   Discovery of rich clay deposits during construction of the Löwenberg–Templin railway line; start of brick production in the area

2. 1910

   Peak of production: 625 million building bricks per year in 57 Hoffmann ring kilns

3. 1929

   Great Depression: heavy losses, several brickworks abandoned

4. 1945

   State-owned brick production in the Soviet occupation zone/GDR; later the largest brick manufacturer of the GDR was located around Mildenberg

5. 1969

   Operation as VEB Ziegelwerke Zehdenick, part of VEB Ziegelkombinat Potsdam

6. 1981

   Part of VEB Kombinat Bau- und Grobkeramik Halle

7. 1991

   Discontinuation of the brickworks operation; brick production at the site ended