Joachimsthal, town in Barnim district, Brandenburg state, Germany
Joachimsthal is a small town in the Barnim district situated between Grimnitzsee lake to the north and Werbellinsee lake to the south. It consists of quiet streets lined with old buildings from different periods, some rebuilt after an 1814 fire according to designs by renowned architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel.
Joachimsthal was founded in 1601 by Joachim III Frederick and received town rights in 1604. A glass factory and the Joachimsthalsches Gymnasium were established shortly after, but a major fire in 1814 destroyed parts of the town and later connected the place to Prussian history, then East Germany until German reunification in 1990.
The name Joachimsthal comes from Joachim III Frederick of Brandenburg, who founded the town in 1601. The Protestant church in the center remains a gathering place for services and community events where families have long practiced their traditions.
The town lies about 17 kilometers northwest of Eberswalde and roughly 55 kilometers northeast of Berlin within the Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve. Visitors can explore the quiet streets on foot and use the two lakes for walking, fishing, or relaxing by the water.
The hunting lodge Hubertusstock was built in 1849 for King Frederick William IV and later served German Emperor Wilhelm II, who even had a train station constructed for his visits. After the war it briefly became a vacation home for Erich Honecker, the East German leader.
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