5. Briest Manor House and Manor Park
Formerly known as the "palace in the countryside", an oak-timbered manor house in the style of the late Renaissance is found in Briest not far from Tangerhütte. An ensemble of manor house, brewery, farm yard, a small chapel, and manor park is the oldest seat of the von Bismarck family in the Altmark and has seen more than 600 years of family history. The 19th century park was based on plans designed by Christian Schaumburg with a picturesque pond, extensive lawns, oak groves, and adjacent fields and wooded areas.
Schaumburg, who also designed parts of the manor house garden in Hanover in 1849, laid out the park here in Briest surrounded by dense oak, hornbeam, and pine forests. He combined elements of both English and French garden styles with many references to the extensive fields and wooded areas surrounding the estate.
Although much of the site fell into ruin after the war, the von Bismarck family is working to restore the ancient splendour and harmony of the manor house, park, and surrounding landscape. In 2008, their commitment to restoring this landmark was awarded by the State of Saxony-Anhalt.
