Station: [5] Tea house

The lifestyle of a Baroque prince included a whole ensemble of places of entertainment – and, of course, a tea house in the palace gardens, where people would stop to enjoy some delicacies, nature, and cultivated conversation.

Although there were no real princes in Ivenack, the local landlords and counts followed the general trend and staged themselves and their village accordingly. A traveler from Denmark recalls his visit to Count Helmuth Burchard Hartwig von Maltzahn, who had the tea house built at the end of the 18th century, in very flattering terms:

Life in Ivenack is exactly like life at the courts of the small German princes, with the only difference being that here one is spared from having to make bland compliments and listen to mindless chatter.

Instead, one gazed out over the lake and chatted about the latest fashions, such as the enthusiasm for everything that came to Europe from distant Asia, the so-called “Middle Kingdom.” Enjoying an exotic hot drink called “tea” was naturally part of this! At the end of the 18th century, opposite the tea house was a circular water basin with a fountain and appropriate planting, around which one could stroll at a measured pace, protected from the sun by small umbrellas.

That was a long time ago!

After years of decay, the tea house is now scheduled for renovation. In the medium term, two apartments for tourists will be built here.

And if you are interested in the history of the park, you can find out more under number six.

Foto: © Lisa Ruschin