Historicism was a 19th century artistic direction which drew inspiration from and imitated a range of historical styles. Unlike classicism, it did not only seek to copy the architecture of Greek and Roman classical antiquity, it also borrowed architectural forms from other eras, all of which were recognised as having equal value. Romanticism was also very influential and helped to develop a sense of the historically determined.

The romantic fairytale fortress, with all its many towers, domes and wings, is reflected in Lake Schwerin, which surrounds the island on which it is built. The five-wing castle owes its current appearance to Friedrich Franz II, grand duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. From 1845 to 1857, the ambitious duke converted the conglomeration of styles into an impressive symbol of his powerful dynasty. The architects were the finest of their age, including such acclaimed masters as Gottfried Semper from Dresden and the Berlin court architect Friedrich August Stüler. The particular attraction of the castle, which today is the seat of the regional government, is its successful symbiosis with the surrounding countryside. With a cross-shaped canal, bridges, symmetric tree-lined avenue and hedges, as well as sculptures by Balthasar Permoser, the extensive grounds are a prime example of a baroque garden.
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On Tempelberg hill, in the ancient Granitz beech forests on the island of Rügen, Prince Wilhelm Malte I zu Putbus had a hunting cabin converted into a neo-classical hunting lodge between 1837 and 1851. The castle-like building has four round corner towers and a 38-metre central tower, designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel. The tower's viewing platform offers breathtaking panoramic views across large parts of Rügen and as far as the island of Usedom.
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Originally a medieval castle that protected German emperors on their hunting trips to the Harz mountains, Wernigerode was converted into a Renaissance fortress in the 16th century. After it was heavily damaged during the Thirty Years' War, Count Ernst zu Stolberg-Wernigerode began to convert the castle's remains into a romantic residential palace. It gained its present form as one of the leading buildings of north-German historicism in the late 19th century. Together with its parks and gardens the castle has been recognised as a cultural monument of national significance since 1999, and it is part of Saxony-Anhalt's state project "Gartenträume" (garden dreams).
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