The Protestant church of St.-Marien-Andreas, originally a basilica, and transformed to the Gothic style in 1517-1589, and the Roman Catholic Church of St George, are noteworthy.

Rathenow is known for its Rathenow stones, bricks made of the clay of the Havel, and for its spectacles and optical instruments, which are exported.

Rathenow is twinned with:

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.