Rathenower Verblendsteinwerk C. G. Matthes & Sohn

The Rathenower Verblendsteinwerk C. G. Matthes & Sohn is a brick factory in Rathenow with administrative buildings, residential quarters, social facilities, and a gatehouse. The entire complex was constructed using distinctive red bricks and gabled roofs.

The factory was founded in 1865 and received its name when Carl Gustav Matthes took control and named the settlement Carlsheim. Under his leadership, it became a major brick manufacturer in the region.

The factory archives contain detailed records of brick markings and catalog numbers, documenting production methods and architectural styles from the industrial period.

The factory produced various types of bricks including masonry, terracotta elements, and glazed stones for major construction projects in Berlin and other northern German cities. The buildings are preserved today as a heritage monument and can be viewed from the outside.

The Matthes family tomb in Rathenow Municipal Cemetery is faced with decorative bricks manufactured at the factory itself, displaying the craftsmanship of their work. This was a common practice for wealthy factory owners to use their own products as personal monuments.