It is chiefly known for Nauen Transmitter Station, the world's oldest preserved radio transmitting installation.

Nauen is situated within the Havelland Luch glacial lowland, the heart of the Havelland region north of the Nauen Plateau, about 38 km (24 mi) west of the Berlin's city center (18 km (11 mi) from the Berlin city limits) and 27 km (17 mi) northwest of Potsdam.

During the Thirty Years' War, in 1631, Nauen was devastated by Imperial troops led by Field Marshal Count Johann Tserclaes of Tilly.

On 27 June 1675, Swedish and Brandenburg troops met at the Battle of Nauen during the Scanian War.

After 1945 the installations were dismantled, but after 1955 the GDR started building up a shortwave transmission center at Nauen.