Tips for the German Heritage Day 2022
Where to go on Open Heritage Day 2022?
For lovers of historical architecture and buildings steeped in history, the second Sunday in September is firmly anchored in the appointment calendar. When thousands of monuments in Germany once again open their old doors and gates on September 11, 2022, and in some cases offer rare insights, interest is high.
For many visitors, the German version of the
European Heritage Daysis more than just a sightseeing. The day of action has long since developed into a meeting place for the scene. With good opportunities for mutual exchange among private monument owners as well as for the transfer of knowledge and contacts, for example in the field of monument preservation and renovation.
Especially popular in the category castles and manor houses: construction sites. Many of the newly joined objects were not accessible to the public for years, and quite a few castles were even threatened by decay. In accordance with this year's motto
Culture Trace. A case for the protection of historical monuments
it becomes particularly clear what traces history has left behind in a place and how these traces are removed or resumed with a view to continuation. For prospective buyers of a listed property in need of renovation, the look behind the scenes of the renovating community provides a first trace of what future renovators of old buildings can expect.
The nationwide program makes it impossible to get to know all monuments of personal interest on this one day. In the following recommendations we are guided by this year's participating castles and manor houses, whose traces threatened to disappear in recent history. Now these houses are on the way to a new future or have already arrived there and are therefore also a recommendable inspiration for future heritage owners.
1. Broock Castle in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
The reconstruction of the castle complex in Broock is one of the projects that received a great response. Until 2017, hardly anyone could have imagined that the long-standing ruin would be revived as a cultural and conference center.Broock Estate
17129 Alt Tellin
Open: 11:00 - 17:00
Broock Castle: facade in 2010
Broock Castle: Entrance Hall
2. Manor Groß Potrems in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
The manor house, which was renovated in the 1990-ies and operated as a castle hotel for several years, was severely damaged by a fire in 2017. In 2018, the current owner purchased the property, and in 2022 the renovation will be completed.Groß Potrems Manor
18196 Prisannewitz
Open: 10:00 - 18:00
Groß Potrems Castle after the fire 2017
3. Gadebusch Castle in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Gadebusch Castle is one of the few true Renaissance castles in Mecklenburg. In 2019, the building, which had long stood empty, was awarded the status of a monument of national importance. Even though it does not have the grand castle character at first glance from the outside, the decorative façade with the preserved Renaissance portals is considered unique.Gadebusch Castle
Amtstraße 6
19205 Gadebusch
Open: 11:00 - 17:00
Gadebusch Castle in Northwest Mecklenburg
Renaissance-Portal im Schloss Gadebusch
4. Niendorf manor in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Clinker brick building by architect Georg Daniel from 1860. The new owners ended many years of vacancy and are continuing the renovation. For the second time, it is open to visitors as part of the Monument Day.Niendorf Manor
Zum Gutshaus 9
23996 Bad Kleinen
Open: 13:00 - 18:00
Manor in Niendorf, Park view
5. Booßen Manor in Brandenburg
Late Classicist manor house with preserved representative interior architecture. After the kindergarten moved out, the building stood empty for some time and was then acquired by an entrepreneur from Frankfurt/Oder.Booßen Manor
Bergstraße 14
15234 Frankfurt (Oder)
Open: Guided tours starting from 10:00
Booßen Manor, view of the later added staircase wing
6. Heinersdorf Castle in Brandenburg
Not far from Booßen in the Oder-Spree district is a special gem and a manor house that is little known beyond the region. Since the mid-1990s, the Heinersdorf manor house with its outstanding baroque stucco-work has been unoccupied and has been gradually renovated over the past few years.Castle Heinersdorf
Haupstraße 36c
15518 Steinhöfel
Open: 10:00 - 17:45
Exterior view of the manor in Heinersdorf
Upper floor staircase in Heinersdorf Palace
Reconstructed stucco rosette
7. Grünow Manor in Brandenburg
Rebuilt manor house from the mid-18th century during the GDR era. After standing empty, it is now privately owned and open to the public for the first time.Grünow Manor
Dorfstraße 17
16278 Mark Landin
Open: 12:00 - 15:30
Grünow Front view
8. Hohenlandin Castle Ruins in Brandenburg
Whether the status of the imposing castle ruins with the striking dragon balcony will change again is uncertain. However, visitors are invited to bring ideas and discuss how the estate ensemble with the Tudor manor house can be preserved or even revived. Examples of castle reconstruction can be found in Poland, by the way.Schoss Hohenlandin
Schlossstraße 7
16303 Schwedt/Oder
Open: 14:00 - 16:00
View from the park
Detail on the castle: Dragon balcony
9. Helmsdorf Castle in Saxony-Anhalt
"Henriette's Legacy", "Castle of Wheelchairs", "House of Wheelchairs" - under such names, the castle and former retirement home became the setting for all kinds of bizarre depictions and photo sessions since the mid-2000s due to the emerging "lost place" trend. The rapid spread of social media subsequently led to the theft and destruction of the interior architecture, which had been largely preserved until then. Now the first steps are being taken to give this valuable building a future.Schloss Helmsdorf (Saxony-Anhalt)
06347 Gerbstedt
Open: 10:00 - 17:00
Helmsdorf Castle Front view
Staircase in the castle
10. Walbeck Castle in Saxony-Anhalt
Schloss Walbeck in Mansfelder Land is located a few km from Schloss Helmsdorf, which makes it easy to combine a visit to these two properties. After being unused for more than 20 years, the current owner bought the baroque manor and turned it into the largest monument equipped with renewable energies, giving it its current name "Sonnenschloss" (sun castle).Schloss Walbeck (Saxony-Anhalt)
Gutsplatz 1
06333 Walbeck
Open: 10:00 - 15:00
Country estate and castle in Walbeck
Ground floor corridor
11. Castle Oberau in Saxony
The Renaissance moated castle with neo-Gothic superstructures has been municipal property since 2009. Since then, the municipality has been working on the gradual restoration with the support of a sponsoring association.Schloss Oberau
Thomas-Müntzer-Ring 5
01689 Niederau
Open: 10:00 - 17:00
Castle Oberau in Saxony
12. Castle and Park Park Kohren-Sahlis
The Sahlis manor with its unique rococo park has been a recurring topic in the regional press in recent years due to various auctions and the associated headlines. The new owners have put an end to the decay and are planning a complete development of all buildings on the manor as well as the associated rococo park.Schloss Kohren-Sahlis
Kastanienallee
09654 Frohburg
Open: ganztägig
Castle and Park Sahlis
13. Castle Knau in Thuringia
The castle in Knau in the Saale-Orla district of Thuringia is a remarkable ensemble consisting of two laterally offset buildings from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Especially the rear Renaissance part with the two festival halls is considered culturally and historically valuable, although the building was severely devastated after 1945. The "Rittergut Knau e.V." support group assists the town of Neustadt an der Orla as the owner with all security and restoration measures.Rittergut Knau
Schulstraße 4
07806 Knau
Open: 13:00 - 17:00
Rittergut Knau: Baroque and Renaissance Castle
Inside Castle Knau
14. The half castle Langenleuba-Niederhain in Thuringia
In 2021, the castle was open to the public for the first time as part of the Open Monument Day. This year, this almost forgotten pearl of the Altenburg region will be there again. Visitors can find out about the progress and further plans.Halbes Schloss Langenleuba-Niederhain
Platz der Einheit 2
04618 Langenleuba-Niederhain
Open: 10:00 - 17:30
It was gloomy for a long time, now there is light in the castle again
15. House Senden in North Rhine-Westphalia
The moated castle in Münsterland was one of the few castle complexes in the old federal states threatened by decay, and for a short time there was even talk of demolition. Since 2015, the association "Schloss Senden", as the new owner, has been pushing ahead with preservation, restoration and revitalisation.Schloss Senden
Holtrup 3
48308 Senden
Open: 11:00 - 18:00
View of the moated castle "Haus Senden"
17349 Golm, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania
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