Altstrelitzer Gefängnis, Prison complex in Strelitz-Alt, Germany
The Altstrelitzer Gefängnis is a building complex on the outskirts of Neustrelitz comprising several structures from different construction periods. The layout includes a main prison house, administrative sections, and auxiliary buildings that together formed a self-contained institutional facility.
The facility was built in 1805 on land where a residence had burned down 13 years before, following orders from the local duke. After World War II, Soviet forces operated it as a detention center until returning it to German administration in 1947.
The complex served as a place for society's most vulnerable and reflects how attitudes toward confinement and mental health shifted across different periods. Walking through the buildings, you can observe how architectural choices reveal changing approaches to caring for and controlling residents.
The complex sits on private land at the edge of town and access requires prior arrangement or permission from the property owners. It is best to inquire locally or contact regional authorities beforehand if you wish to visit the site.
The site functioned as a poorhouse before becoming a prison, and later operated as a psychiatric facility for many decades. This shifting use reveals how communities repurposed institutional buildings to address changing social needs.
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