Ruedersdorf is situated 26 km (16 mi) east of Berlin centre. The municipality is noted for its limestone-open-pit mining. Some parts of the mine are used as a museum (Museumspark Ruedersdorf). Some notable buildings in Berlin such as the Brandenburg Gate are built with limestone from Ruedersdorf.
Ruedersdorf was built as a foundation of the Cistercian 1235-1250 in southeastern Barnim, where the monastery Zinna built up ten villages as the owner of the land. During this period, the legend says Ruedersdorfer farmers discovered on their fields and meadows the outcropping limestone. Right thereafter, in 1254 Ruedersdorfer limestone was used for the construction of the Dominican monastery in Strausberg.
With the privatization of the limestone mining and cement plants, as well as the demolition tattered factory building the environmental situation improved greatly. The serious dust emissions in Ruedersdorf have been significantly reduced to 1995 inclusive.
On September 23rd 2008, the municipality was awarded the title "City of Diversity" conferred by the federal government.
Tour Ruedersdorf through Waymarking
Sundial at town hall Ruedersdorf
The sundial was originally build in 1810. So far, the reason to build this sun dial, is not known.
In summer 2009 the stele of limestone with a weight of approximately 3.5 tons was moved from the previous location at Culture House to the small car park in opposite from town hall.
It is a three-sided pillar, which has a sign on the north side, on the south east side a sundial and on the west side a morning sundial. In 2009 the sundial was also refurbished, cleaned and got a new pointer.
From www.ruedersdorf.de