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W 1 Parum Rectory 16/05-31/05 min 18 12 RENO/ECO Spring Workcamp at Parum Rectory
Project: Parum is a little village not far away from the city Güstrow. It almost only consists of the church, the former Rectory, the church school and two old farmhouses. The church dates back to the Middle Ages. To save it from totally falling apart it was renovated by the parish almost exceptionlessly in non-commercial work. The other buildings of the village are all restored quite well. The Rectory was built in 1841 instead of the burnt down former building. It is a nice big building in classicist style – the biggest Rectory in Mecklenburg at all – which leans to the representative Manor architecture of this period. Behind the house there is a small park with some worthfully woods facing down to the lake of Parum. The interior of the house is almost unchanged, the old room disposition, original doorways, windows and fittings, wide hallways.
But still the building has some big defects which partwise depend on mistakes made in the past and partwise on necessary restoration.
Last year the network Open Houses made the buildings one of their projects to rebuild it part by part and use it afterwards as a meeting point and to keep conscious of the past. The workcamp last September was the first big work event at the building and in the park in which preparation works for the following restorations have been done.
This year we will empty and clean up the roof framework of the manor.
The park and the area directly around the house will be tidied up e.g. by mowing the lawn and cutting some bushes.
Work: Work at the roof framework, cultivation of the park
Accommodation: On mattresses inside the rectory, shower (warm)
Location: Next town : Güstrow (4 km), Rostock (30 Km), Region: Mecklenburg Terminal: Next railway station: Berlin, Rostock
Age: at least 18
Special requirements: –
Fee: –
W 2 Lohra Castle 27/06-10/07 min 18 15 RENO/ECO Summer workcamp at Lohra Castle
Restoration and winter preparation as accommodation for different groups
Project: Lohra Castle is situated in the heart of Germany in Northern Thuringia. The castle, which is surrounded by a scenic hilly landscape, is located on the edge of a nature reserve area. Being one of the largest castles in Thuringia, Lohra dates back to the Middle Ages. Today, it includes 15 buildings from different times: medieval fortifications, remnants of a tower from the 11th century, a roman chapel, a manor from the Renaissance period as well as stables and granaries from the 19th century. After the castle had been unoccupied for decades, Open Houses started to restore the castle at the beginning of the 1990s and to revive it by cultural activities. Since then, a large number of art workshops, exhibitions, concerts and international meetings took place in the castle.
We will use the workcamp mainly to improve the castle site for the following use by guest groups. Many groups will visit Lohra Castle during spring and summer – groups of the Open Houses Network (a Theatre workshop, a project of Fine Arts and others) as well as other groups with their own projects.
Therefore we will do some care, reparation and maintenance works inside and outside the castle to prepair it for following projekts. Those works will be cultivating the castle garden, e.g. cutting gras and clearing the castle ditch from gras and plants.
A very important work will be to empty and clear up the attic of the castle´s former horse stable in preparation for the following Building Weeks, in which the floor will be restored. Another work will be the wood collection in the forests around the castle, which has to be cut and stored in the castle`s cellar for the cold wintertime.
We will also set up a scaffold at one of the houses for following works on the roof.
Work: Empty and clear up the attic of the former horse stable, care and reparation works inside and outside the castle
Accommodation: 2-, 3-, 4-bed-rooms in houses, two of them with warm shower, WC inside, the other two houses have a shower nearby
Location: Next town: Nordhausen (20 km), Erfurt (80 km). Region: Thuringia
Terminal: Next railway station: Gebra (6 km). Next airports: Frankfurt/Main, Leipzig, Erfurt
Age: at least 18, open to parents with their children
Special requirements: -
Fee: -
W 3 Wolterslage Manor 03/07-24/07 18 to 26 10 RENO/ECO Summer workcamp at Wolterslage Manor
Restoration of a manor house as accommodation for youth groups
Project: The Wolterslage Manor house is situated in mid-Altmark region, on half-way between Berlin and Hannover. It is a typical example of manor house architecture from the second half of the 19th century. Though the architectural design is simple, the brick walls are delightfully detailed. The windows, shutters, doors and mountings are all rare craftsmanships and despite not having been used as intended and having been abandoned for several years, remain unchanged.
After renovation the manor will be put at the disposal of groups who wish to carry out particular projects fitting to the peacefulness of the surroundings. Close to the Manor there is a lake, where the participants can swim and sit around a campfire.
The participants will do different reparation works inside and outside the manor and cultivate the surrounding garden.
We will dig out ditches to drain the foundation of the manor.
Work: Reparation and tidy up works, cultivate the garden, digging works at the ditches
Accommodation: Simple; mattresses, cold water, one shower (warm - if you heat the water with wood).
Location: Next town: Stendal (40 km), Region: Sachsen-Anhalt
Terminal: Next railway station: Osterburg (10 km). Next airports: Hannover, Berlin
Age: at least 18
Special requirements: -
Fee: -
W 4 Parum Rectory 04/07-24/07 min 18 12 RENO/ECO Summer Workcamp at Parum Rectory
Project: Parum is a little village not far away from the city Güstrow. It almost only consists of the church, the former Rectory, the church school and two old farmhouses. The church dates back to the Middle Ages. To save it from totally falling apart it was renovated by the parish almost exceptionlessly in non-commercial work. The other buildings of the village are all restored quite well. The Rectory was built in 1841 instead of the burnt down former building. It is a nice big building in classicist style – the biggest Rectory in Mecklenburg at all – which leans to the representative Manor architecture of this period. Behind the house there is a small park with some worthfully woods facing down to the lake of Parum. The interior of the house is almost unchanged, the old room disposition, original doorways, windows and fittings, wide hallways.
But still the building has some big defects which partwise depend on mistakes made in the past and partwise on necessary restoration.
Last year the network Open Houses made the buildings one of their projects to rebuild it part by part and use it afterwards as a meeting point and to keep conscious of the past. The workcamp last September was the first big work event at the building and in the park in which preparation works for the following restorations have been done.
This year we will empty and clean up the roof framework of the manor.
The park and the area directly around the house will be tidied up e.g. by mowing the lawn and cutting some bushes.
We will help the carpentry workers and transport different material for them.
Work: Work at the roof framework, cultivation of the park, other renovation and restoration work.
Accommodation: on mattresses inside the rectory, shower (warm)
Location: Next town : Güstrow (4 km), Rostock (30 Km), Region: Mecklenburg Terminal: Next railway station: Berlin, Rostock
Age: at least 18
Special requirements: –
Fee: –
W 5 Lohra Castle 10/07-25/07 18 to 26 20 RENO/ECO Summer workcamp at Lohra Castle
Restoration as accommodation for different groups and winter preparation
Project: Lohra Castle is situated in the heart of Germany in Northern Thuringia. The castle, which is surrounded by a scenic hilly landscape, is located on the edge of a nature reserve area. Being one of the largest castles in Thuringia, Lohra dates back to the Middle Ages. Today, it includes 15 buildings from different times: medieval fortifications, remnants of a tower from the 11th century, a roman chapel, a manor from the Renaissance period as well as stables and granaries from the 19th century. After the castle had been unoccupied for decades, Open Houses started to restore the castle at the beginning of the 1990s and to revive it by cultural activities. Since then, a large number of art workshops, exhibitions, concerts and international meetings took place in the castle.
We will use the workcamp mainly to improve the castle site for the following use by guest groups. Many groups will visit Lohra Castle during spring and summer – groups of the Open Houses Network (Theatre workshop, wood art project and others) as well as other groups with their own projects.
Therefore we will do some some care, reparation and maintenance works inside and outside the castle to prepair it for following projekts. Those works will be cultivating the castle garden, e.g. cutting gras and clearing the castle ditch from gras and plants.
A very important work will be to empty and clear up the attic of the castle´s former horse stable in preparation for the following Building Weeks, in which the floor will be restored. Another work will be the wood collection in the forests around the castle, which has to be cut and stored in the castle`s cellar for the cold wintertime.
We will set up a scaffold at one of the houses for following works on the roof.
Work: Clearing up ditches from gras and bushes; empty and clear up the attic of the former horse stable; wood collection, cutting and storing in the castle
Accommodation: 2-, 3-, 4-bed-rooms in houses, two of them with warm shower, WC inside, the other two houses have a shower nearby
Location: Next town: Nordhausen (20 km), Erfurt (80 km). Region: Thuringia
Terminal: Next railway station: Gebra (6 km). Next airports: Frankfurt/Main, Leipzig, Erfurt
Special requirements: -
Fee: -
W 6 Ollendorf Water Castle 17/07-07/08 16 to 22 12 ECO/RENO Summer Workcamp at Ollendorf Water Castle
Project: Ollendorf castle is situated between Erfurt, Thuringia´s regional centre, and Weimar, the 1999 European capital of culture. Ollendorf was once an important settlement on the historic Via Regia, one of the most significant routes of commerce in the Middle Ages, and which linked Thuringia and Saxony to Eastern Europe. At the end of the seventeenth century, after the castle had been destroyed by a fire, the manor was built in a simple rural baroque style. Following the decline of the Via Regia in the 19th century, the site was chiefly used for agricultural purposes and store houses and barns were built. Then the manor fell into disrepair after having been abandoned for several decades.
In 1997 the water castle was taken over by the Open Houses.
Due to the young people, who have lived there and taken part in its renovation since this year, the castle, near both Weimar and Erfurt, is a place of creativity and open-mindedness. In a spirit true to its past as an inn, the castle will once again become a place where people come and go and where different cultures meet.
The volunteers will dig out a part of the water-ditch of the castle to extend it.
They will give assistance in renovating the former pig stable.
Work: Digging works at the castle ditch, renovation
Accommodation: Simple; on mattresses in the house, shower (cold) and WC inside
Location: Next towns: Weimar (15 km) and Erfurt (15 km). Region Thüringen Terminal: Next railway station: Weimar (15 km). Next airports: Erfurt, Leipzig, Frankfurt/Main
Age: at least 16
Special requirements: –
Fee: –
W 7 Burgheßler Manor 17/07-07/08 18 to 26 20 RENO Summer Workcamp in Thüringen or Sachsen-Anhalt Saving historical construction material for reutilization
Project: The Workcamp will take part either in Thüringen or Sachsen-Anhalt. The particular place will be decided until May. Starting from a monument building as base – lodging, starting point and storeroom – we will save historical building and construction material that shall be reused for the reparation of conservated monuments. Especially tiles will be saved in the surrounding villages. Therefore the participants should be able to walk on roofs.
Besides – depending on the concrete needs at our lodging – we will do different reparation and other handicraft works.
Work: collecting historical construction material for reutilization
Accommodation:
Location:
Terminal:
Age: At least 18
Special requirements: -
Fee: -
W 8 Rittermannshagen Manor 25/07-14/08 18 to 26 12 ECO/RENO Summer tent workcamp at Rittermannshagen Manor
Restoration of a manor house as accommodation for youth groups
Project: Rittermannshagen Manor is situated between the towns of Waren/Müritz and Malchin in an area which is called „Switzerland of Mecklenburg“ – for the lots of mountains it has. The manor, which is very typical for this region, is a simple half-timbered house from the second half of the 19th century. Mixed forests in a hilly landscape characterise the region, and small round lakes show that the area was formed by glaciers during the ice age. Quite far away from the tourist centers of Müritz and other cities of Mecklenburg, this area is a calm and peaceful place where life seems to have its own rhythm. The estate of Rittermannshagen Manor is situated a bit off the road which leads from Malchin to Waren. The only building preserved is the manor itself, although it was in danger like the others. The house was still inhabited until some years ago, but in 1994, a dubious investor started reconstruction works after he had made the tenants to move out of the flat. The uncovered roof during the reconstruction works finally resulted in the destruction of the loam ceilings. In the meantime, the roof truss and the roofing have been restored, and two years ago we could start with the interior works in the house including different techniques of loam construction.
The participants will do some cultivation works in the Manor garden, do different reparation and tidy up works in the interior of the house and help to lay bricks at the framework.
Work: Substantial repairing and renovation works, work in the garden
Accommodation: Very simple; in tents in the garden, shower outside (cold)
Location: Next town: Waren/Müritz (15 km). Region: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Terminal: Next railway station: Waren/Müritz (15 km). Next airport: Berlin, Rostock Age: at least 18
Special requirements: -
Fee: -
W 9 Welzin Manor Park (Lübz) 01/08-21/08 17 to 22 15 ECO/RENO Summer workcamp at the Manor near Lübz Restoration of a manor house as accommodation for youth groups and revitalisation of the former park
Project: Near Lübz there is a Manor in a very small settlement of manor houses, called Welzin. The centre of the village is the almost 200 year-old manor house faced by some lime trees and some several hundreds of ancient oak trees. Behind the manor there are remainings of the former manor park. The manor house is a large simple half-timbered building, what has not been changed since its construction, but it has been unused for a longer time.
The surrounding landscape is not very hilly, but quite delightful. We will have some bicycles there, and a lake to go swimming is only two kilometres away from the manor house.
The participants will work outside the Manor in the former park. They will tidy up and cultivate the garden, e.g. by cutting the wild grown plants, mawing the lawn, collecting old leaves as well as scrapping metals and rubbish. Some old paths leading through the garden have to be renewed.
We will also do some renovation works at the manor and the adjoining building.
Work: Cultivation of the manor park
Accommodation: Simple; on mattresses, shower outside (cold), WC inside the Manor
Location: Next town: Güstrow (30 km), Region: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Terminal: Next railway station: Passow/Mecklenburg (1 km). Next airports: Berlin, Rostock
Age: at least 17
Special requirements: -
Fee: -
W 10 Ollendorf Water Castle 08/08-28/08 18 to 26 12 ECO/RENO Summer Workcamp at Ollendorf Water Castle
Project: Ollendorf castle is situated between Erfurt, Thuringia´s regional centre, and Weimar, the 1999 European capital of culture. Ollendorf was once an important settlement on the historic Via Regia, one of the most significant routes of commerce in the Middle Ages, and which linked Thuringia and Saxony to Eastern Europe. At the end of the seventeenth century, after the castle had been destroyed by a fire, the manor was built in a simple rural baroque style. Following the decline of the Via Regia in the 19th century, the site was chiefly used for agricultural purposes and store houses and barns were built. Then the manor fell into disrepair after having been abandoned for several decades.
In 1997 the water castle was taken over by the Open Houses.
Due to the young people, who have lived there and taken part in its renovation since this year, the castle, near both Weimar and Erfurt, is a place of creativity and open-mindedness. In a spirit true to its past as an inn, the castle will once again become a place where people come and go and where different cultures meet.
The volunteers will give assistance in renovating the former pig stable. They will do digging-works at the water-ditch of the castle and help to restorate the old stone bridge.
We will help to remove the tiles of the roof in order to recover it after that.
Work: Renovation and digging works at the castle ditch mainly
Accommodation: Simple; on mattresses in the house, shower (cold) and WC inside
Location: Next towns: Weimar (15 km) and Erfurt (15 km). Region Thüringen Terminal: Next railway station: Weimar (15 km). Next airports: Erfurt, Leipzig, Frankfurt/Main
Age: at least 18
Special requirements: –
Fee: –
W 11 Welzin Manor Park (Lübz) (my) 22/08-12/09 17 to 22 15 ECO/RENO Summer workcamp at Welzin Manor Park
Restoration of a manor house as accommodation for youth groups and revitalisation of the former park
Project: Near Lübz there is a Manor in a very small settlement of manor houses, called Welzin. The centre of the village is the almost 200 year-old manor house faced by some lime trees and some several hundreds of ancient oak trees. Behind the manor there are remainings of the former manor park. The manor house is a large simple half-timbered building, what has not been changed since its construction, but it has been unused for a longer time.
The surrounding landscape is not very hilly, but quite delightful. We will have some bicycles there, and a lake to go swimming is only two kilometres away from the manor house.
The participants will work outside the Manor in the former park. They will tidy up and cultivate the garden, e.g. by cutting the wild grown plants, mawing the lawn, collecting old leaves as well as scrapping metals and rubbish. Some old paths leading through the garden have to be renewed.
Probably we will also do some renovation works at the manor and the adjoining building.
Work: Cultivation of the manor park
Accommodation: Simple; on mattresses, shower outside (cold), WC inside the Manor
Location: Next town: Güstrow (30 km), Region: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Terminal: Next railway station: Passow/Mecklenburg (1 km). Next airports: Berlin, Rostock
Age: at least 17
Special requirements: -
Fee: -
W 12 Lohra Castle 29/08-11/09 min 18 15 ECO/RENO Summer workcamp at Lohra Castle
Restoration as accommodation for different groups and winter preparation
Project: Lohra Castle is situated in the heart of Germany in Northern Thuringia. The castle, which is surrounded by a scenic hilly landscape, is located on the edge of a nature reserve area. Being one of the largest castles in Thuringia, Lohra dates back to the Middle Ages. Today, it includes 15 buildings from different times: medieval fortifications, remnants of a tower from the 11th century, a roman chapel, a manor from the Renaissance period as well as stables and granaries from the 19th century. After the castle had been unoccupied for decades, Open Houses started to restore the castle at the beginning of the 1990s and to revive it by cultural activities. Since then, a large number of art workshops, exhibitions, concerts and international meetings took place in the castle.
We will use the workcamp mainly to improve the castle site for the following use by guest groups. Many groups will visit Lohra Castle during spring and summer – groups of the Open Houses Network (Theatre workshop, wood art project and others) as well as other groups with their own projects.
Therefore we will do some care, reparation and maintenance works inside and outside the castle to prepair it for following projekts. Those works will be cultivating the castle garden, e.g. cutting gras and clearing the castle ditch from gras and plants.
A very important work will be the wood collection in the forests around the castle. It has to be cut and stored in the castle`s cellar for the cold winter time.
Work: cultivation of the castle garden and ditch, wood collection and cutting
Accommodation: 2-, 3-, 4-bed-rooms in houses, two of them with warm shower, WC inside, the other two houses have a shower nearby
Location: Next town: Nordhausen (20 km), Erfurt (80 km). Region: Thuringia
Terminal: Next railway station: Gebra (6 km). Next airports: Frankfurt/Main, Leipzig, Erfurt
Age: at least 18, open to parents with their children
Special requirements: -
Fee: -
W 13 Lohra Castle 12/09-26/09 min 18 12 ECO/RENO Autumn workcamp at Lohra Castle
Restoration as accommodation for different groups and winter preparation
Project: Lohra Castle is situated in the heart of Germany in Northern Thuringia. The castle, which is surrounded by a scenic hilly landscape, is located on the edge of a nature reserve area. Being one of the largest castles in Thuringia, Lohra dates back to the Middle Ages. Today, it includes 15 buildings from different times: medieval fortifications, remnants of a tower from the 11th century, a roman chapel, a manor from the Renaissance period as well as stables and granaries from the 19th century. After the castle had been unoccupied for decades, Open Houses started to restore the castle at the beginning of the 1990s and to revive it by cultural activities. Since then, a large number of art workshops, exhibitions, concerts and international meetings took place in the castle.
We will use the workcamp mainly to improve the castle site for the following use by guest groups. Many groups will visit Lohra Castle during spring and summer – groups of the Open Houses Network (Theatre workshop, wood art project and others) as well as other groups with their own projects.
Therefore we will do some care, reparation and maintenance works inside and outside the castle to prepair it for following projekts. Those works will be cultivating the castle garden, e.g. cutting gras and clearing the castle ditch from gras and plants.
The most important work will be the wood collection in the forests around the castle, which has to be cut and stored in the castle`s cellar for the cold wintertime.
Work: wood collection, cutting and storing, cultivation of the castle garden, clearing the castle ditch from plants
Accommodation: 2-, 3-, 4-bed-rooms in houses, two of them with warm shower, WC inside, the other two houses have a shower nearby
Location: Next town: Nordhausen (20 km), Erfurt (80 km). Region: Thuringia
Terminal: Next railway station: Gebra (6 km). Next airports: Frankfurt/Main, Leipzig, Erfurt
Age: at least 18
Special requirements: -
Fee: -
Building Weeks
Within the framework of the building weeks both, skilled manual workers and those with no manual training can work together to restore historical monuments.
In contrast to the workcamps where the emphasis lies on communal life in a group of people of different nationalities and from different backgrounds and the working time is 6 hours a day, in Building weeks the emphasis is on manual work and the daily working time is 8 hours. Participants here have a greater possibility of gaining real experience in restoration and other manual tasks and to broaden their knowledge.
A further aim is that those taking part should share their skills and experiences. Craftsmen bring the technical element whilst the other participants, who often come from social professions, bring with them the concept of public benefit.
The building weeks each last for two or three weeks and the groups are small - up to ten people depending on the number of applications received. It is also possible to take part for a shorter time – e.g. just for one week – as we would like to offer this opportunity also to those who are tied up in professional life and with little free time.
Motivation-letters are requested for all building weeks.
B 1 Wolterslage Manor 25/07-14/08 min 18 10 CONS/BUILD Summer Building Weeks at Wolterslage Manor
Restoration of a manor house as accommodation for youth groups
Project: The Wolterslage Manor house is situated in mid-Altmark region, on half-way between Berlin and Hannover. It is a typical example of manor house architecture from the second half of the 19th century. Though the architectural design is simple, the brick walls are delightfully detailed. The windows, shutters, doors and mountings are all rare craftsmanships and despite not having been used as intended and having been abandoned for several years, remain unchanged.
After renovation the manor will be put at the disposal of groups who wish to carry out particular projects fitting to the peacefulness of the surroundings. Close to the Manor there is a lake, where the participants can swim and sit around a campfire.
The participants will do different renovation and reparation works inside and outside the manor. Besides we will lay bricks at the framework, do some works on the roof and different painting works in the house´s interior. Work: Renovation works inside and outside, works at the roof, lay bricks at the framework
Accommodation: Simple; mattresses, cold water, one shower (warm - if you heat the water with wood).
Location: Next town: Stendal (40 km), Region: Sachsen-Anhalt
Terminal: Next railway station: Osterburg (10 km). Next airports: Hannover, Berlin
Age: at least 18
Special requirements: motivation letter required
Fee: -
B 2 Parum Rectory 25/07-14/08 min 18 10 CONS Summer Building Weeks at Parum Rectory
Project: Parum is a little village not far away from the city Güstrow. It almost only consists of the church, the former Rectory, the church school and two old farmhouses. The church dates back to the Middle Ages. To save it from totally falling apart it was renovated by the parish almost exceptionlessly in non-commercial work. The other buildings of the village are all restored quite well. The Rectory was built in 1841 instead of the burnt down former building. It is a nice big building in classicist style – the biggest Rectory in Mecklenburg at all – which leans to the representative Manor architecture of this period. Behind the house there is a small park with some worthfully woods facing down to the lake of Parum. The interior of the house is almost unchanged, the old room disposition, original doorways, windows and fittings, wide hallways.
But still the building has some big defects which partwise depend on mistakes made in the past and partwise on necessary restoration.
In 2002 the network Open Houses made the buildings one of their projects to rebuild it part by part and use it afterwards as a meeting point and to keep conscious of the past. The workcamp in September 2002 was the first big work event at the building and in the park in which preparation works for the following restorations have been done.
We will work at the roof framework, remove tiles and do bricklayer and plastering works. Besides different preparing and tidy up works will be done.
Work: Work at the roof framework, bricklayer and plastering works, remove tiles
Accommodation: on mattresses inside the rectory, shower (warm)
Location: Next town : Güstrow (4 km), Rostock (30 Km), Region: Mecklenburg Terminal: Next railway station: Berlin, Rostock
Age: at least 18
Special requirements: motivation letter required
Fee: –
B 3 Lohra Castle 25/07-14/08 min 18 12 BUILD Summer Building Weeks at Lohra Castle
Restoration as accommodation for different groups
Project: Lohra Castle is situated in the heart of Germany in Northern Thuringia. The castle, which is surrounded by a scenic hilly landscape, is located on the edge of a nature reserve area. Being one of the largest castles in Thuringia, Lohra dates back to the Middle Ages. Today, it includes 15 buildings from different times: medieval fortifications, remnants of a tower from the 11th century, a roman chapel, a manor from the Renaissance period as well as stables and granaries from the 19th century. After the castle had been unoccupied for decades, Open Houses started to restore the castle at the beginning of the 1990s and to revive it by cultural activities. Since then, a large number of art workshops, exhibitions, concerts and international meetings took place in the castle.
The volunteers will renovate the storehouse of the former horse-stable, particularly restore the floor in order to use the storehouse for following projects e.g. Theater or Art workshops.
The attic of one of the houses will be renovated for group accomodation. A bathroom will be installed and the insulation will be made.
Work: Restoration of the storehouse floor of the castle´s former horse stable, bathroom installation, insulation Accommodation: 2-, 3-, 4-bed-rooms in houses, two of them with warm shower, WC inside, the other two houses have a shower nearby
Location: Next town: Nordhausen (20 km), Erfurt (80 km). Region: Thuringia
Terminal: Next railway station: Gebra (6 km). Next airports: Frankfurt/Main, Leipzig, Erfurt
Age: at least 18, open to parents with their children
Special requirements: motivation letter required
Fee: -
B 5 Wolterslage Manor 15/08-04/09 min 18 10 CONS/BUILD Summer Building Weeks at Wolterslage Manor
Restoration of a manor house as accommodation for youth groups
Project: The Wolterslage Manor house is situated in mid-Altmark region, on half-way between Berlin and Hannover. It is a typical example of manor house architecture from the second half of the 19th century. Though the architectural design is simple, the brick walls are delightfully detailed. The windows, shutters, doors and mountings are all rare craftsmanships and despite not having been used as intended and having been abandoned for several years, remain unchanged.
After renovation the manor will be put at the disposal of groups who wish to carry out particular projects fitting to the peacefulness of the surroundings. Close to the Manor there is a lake, where the participants can swim and sit around a campfire.
The participants will do different renovation and reparation works inside and outside the manor. Besides we will lay bricks at the framework, do some works on the roof and different painting works in the house´s interior. Work: Renovation works inside and outside, works at the roof, lay bricks at the framework
Accommodation: Simple; mattresses, cold water, one shower (warm - if you heat the water with wood).
Location: Next town: Stendal (40 km), Region: Sachsen-Anhalt
Terminal: Next railway station: Osterburg (10 km). Next airports: Hannover, Berlin
Age: at least 18
Special requirements: motivation letter required
Fee: -
B 6 Parum Rectory 15/08-04/09 min 18 10 CONS Summer Building Weeks at Parum Rectory
Project: Parum is a little village not far away from the city Güstrow. It almost only consists of the church, the former Rectory, the church school and two old farmhouses. The church dates back to the Middle Ages. To save it from totally falling apart it was renovated by the parish almost exceptionlessly in non-commercial work. The other buildings of the village are all restored quite well. The Rectory was built in 1841 instead of the burnt down former building. It is a nice big building in classicist style – the biggest Rectory in Mecklenburg at all – which leans to the representative Manor architecture of this period. Behind the house there is a small park with some worthfully woods facing down to the lake of Parum. The interior of the house is almost unchanged, the old room disposition, original doorways, windows and fittings, wide hallways.
But still the building has some big defects which partwise depend on mistakes made in the past and partwise on necessary restoration.
In 2002 the network Open Houses made the buildings one of their projects to rebuild it part by part and use it afterwards as a meeting point and to keep conscious of the past. The workcamp in September 2002 was the first big work event at the building and in the park in which preparation works for the following restorations have been done.
We will work at the roof framework and remove tiles to recover the roof after that. Some bricklayer and plastering works will be done and also different preparing and tidy up works.
Work: Work at the roof framework, remove tiles, recover the roof, different renovation and restoration work, tidy up works
Accommodation: on mattresses inside the rectory, shower (warm)
Location: Next town : Güstrow (4 km), Rostock (30 Km), Region: Mecklenburg Terminal: Next railway station: Berlin, Rostock
Age: at least 18
Special requirements: motivation letter required
Fee: –
B 8 Parum Rectory 05/09-25/09 min 18 10 CONS Autumn Building Weeks at Parum Rectory
Project: Parum is a little village not far away from the city Güstrow. It almost only consists of the church, the former Rectory, the church school and two old farmhouses. The church dates back to the Middle Ages. To save it from totally falling apart it was renovated by the parish almost exceptionlessly in non-commercial work. The other buildings of the village are all restored quite well. The Rectory was built in 1841 instead of the burnt down former building. It is a nice big building in classicist style – the biggest Rectory in Mecklenburg at all – which leans to the representative Manor architecture of this period. Behind the house there is a small park with some worthfully woods facing down to the lake of Parum. The interior of the house is almost unchanged, the old room disposition, original doorways, windows and fittings, wide hallways.
But still the building has some big defects which partwise depend on mistakes made in the past and partwise on necessary restoration.
In 2002 the network Open Houses made the buildings one of their projects to rebuild it part by part and use it afterwards as a meeting point and to keep conscious of the past. The workcamp in September 2002 was the first big work event at the building and in the park in which preparation works for the following restorations have been done.
We will work at the roof framework and remove tiles to recover the roof after that. Some bricklayer and plastering works will be done and also different preparing and tidy up works.
Work: Work at the roof framework, remove tiles, recover the roof, different renovation and restoration work, tidy up works
Accommodation: On mattresses inside the rectory, shower (warm)
Location: Next town : Güstrow (4 km), Rostock (30 Km), Region: Mecklenburg Terminal: Next railway station: Berlin, Rostock
Age: at least 18
Special requirements: motivation letter required
Fee: –
Clay Building Weeks
For those particularly interested in working with purely natural, organic and traditional building materials, we organise special building weeks.
We focus on working with clay. A highlight from a technical point of view has been the work achieved in the building weeks in the Reconciliation chapel in Berlin, the first public building in recent years to be built using the stamp clay technique.
This year the Clay Building Weeks take place in Wolterslage Manor. Participants will learn and use different clay building and clay plastering techniques with a professional teacher.
B 9 Wolterslage Manor 11/09-26/09 min 18 12 CONS/BUILD Clay Building Weeks at Wolterslage Manor
Restoration of a manor house as accommodation for youth groups
Project: The Wolterslage Manor house is situated in mid-Altmark region, on half-way between Berlin and Hannover. It is a typical example of manor house architecture from the second half of the 19th century. Though the architectural design is simple, the brick walls are delightfully detailed. The windows, shutters, doors and mountings are all rare craftsmanships and despite not having been used as intended and having been abandoned for several years, remain unchanged.
After renovation the manor will be put at the disposal of groups who wish to carry out particular projects fitting to the peacefulness of the surroundings. Close to the Manor there is a lake, where the participants can swim and sit around a campfire.
This year participants of the Clay Building Weeks will learn to know and how to use different clay building and clay plasering techniques under professional instruction. We will do rough and fine plasering works, either in terms of old monuments or new buildings. In a special course the previous contents will be deepened and further details in clay building will be tought.
Work: different clay building and clay plastering on monuments and new buildings, special course with a professional
Accommodation: Simple; mattresses, cold water, one shower (warm - if you heat the water with wood).
Location: Next town: Stendal (40 km), Region: Sachsen-Anhalt
Terminal: Next railway station: Osterburg (10 km). Next airports: Hannover, Berlin
Age: at least 18
Special requirements: motivation letter required
Special Fee: 50 EUR
Via Regia projects
The Via Regia, once an important medieval commercial route of cultural significance, linking Spain and France through Germany to Poland and Russia, is now mostly forgotten. Built over and ploughed up...
In 1998 we began to mark the route and its development both culturally and through art so as to bring it to people's attention once more. Predominantly young people from Germany, Europe and overseas - both amateurs and professional artists - have come together each year in Ollendorf water castle and have worked on a project together, whether music, fine arts, theatre or dance, in order to revive the route.
This summer once again, a couple of weeks will be dedicated to art projects and Lohra castle will be the frame.
A 1 Lohra Castle 25/07-15/08 18 to 30 12 THEATER International theatre workshop at Lohra Castle in the framework of Via Regia Art Projects
Project: Lohra Castle is situated in the heart of Germany in Northern Thuringia. The castle, dating back to the Middle Ages, is surrounded by a scenic hilly landscape and is located at the edge of a nature reserve area. It is one of the largest castles in Thuringia.
After it had been unoccupied for decades, Open Houses started to restore the castle at the beginning of the 1990s and to revive it by cultural activities. Since then, a large number of art workshops, exhibitions, concerts and international meetings have taken place in the castle.
This year once again we will start an international theatre project in Lohra Castle. People of different cultures will live there together for three weeks and perform a stage play concerning a topical theme.
The community of the participants shall be in the foreground. We have planned to make a play about a topic theme – maybe about a world political feature, maybe about a feature with a regional limited background. We want to create the play alltogether, work it out, try and study in order to act it out on the stage finally.
This way you get the chance to participate in the creation of the play, to build and create the necessary requisites on your own and to put your own imaginations, ideas and proposals into action.
By living together and being active with one another making theatre games and exercises there grows an intensive jointly expiriencing. The participants learn to know each other in a special and deep way and there can develop a lively, interesting and productive hand-in-hand of different mentalities, fiews and ideas.
All who are interested in theatre and role playing, all who like active games, singing, body movement and jointly discovering and experiencing in a mulilticultural group – you are all very welcome.
To conclude our three-weeks-work we will give a final performance of our theatre play in the „Kulturspeicher Ollendorf“ at the Via Regia near Weimar.
Work: International theatre workshop for volunteers with and without theatre experience with a final performance
Accommodation: in 2-, 3-, 4-bed-rooms in houses, either with (warm) shower and WC inside or with one nearby
Location: Next town: Nordhausen (20 km), Erfurt (80 km). Region: Thuringia
Terminal: Next railway station: Gebra (6 km). Next airports: Frankfurt/Main, Leipzig, Erfurt
Age: 18 to 30
Special requirements: Theatre and Music expierence welcome
motivation letter required
Special Fee: 45 EUR
A 2 Lohra Castle 14/08-29/08 min 18 20 Fine Arts at Lohra Castle
Project: Lohra Castle is situated in the heart of Germany in Northern Thuringia. The castle, dating back to the Middle Ages, is surrounded by a scenic hilly landscape and is located at the edge of a nature reserve area. It is one of the largest castles in Thuringia.
After it had been unoccupied for decades, Open Houses started to restore the castle at the beginning of the 1990s and to revive it by cultural activities. Since then, a large number of art workshops, exhibitions, concerts and international meetings have taken place at the castle.
Work:
Accommodation: 2-, 3-, 4-bed-rooms in houses, two of them with warm shower, WC inside, the other two houses have a shower nearby
Location: Next town: Nordhausen (20 km), Erfurt (80 km). Region: Thuringia
Terminal: Next railway station: Gebra (6 km). Next airports: Frankfurt/Main, Leipzig, Erfurt
Age: at least 18
Special requirements: motivation letter required
S 1 Ecumenical Pilgrim´s Way 29/08-18/09 min 18 14 SPECIAL Walking, cycling and working at the Via Regia and the Ecumenical Pilgrims Way
Project: - on our way on the Via Regia, an old mercantile and pilgrims route, we will connect former and current times and try together to experience time and speed.
How do we feel time and speed and how do we deal with it – in our activities, in our life? And in what different kinds do people of different nationality and culture experience and deal with time and slowlyness – or quickness?
Which meaning get time and speed if we join other people – in a group?
People of different cultures will find – in their individuality and difference – for the period of three weeks a common speed, in order to life together, to be on their way together and to work together....while time goes by as usual...
Starting from Görlitz during the first week we will be on our way by foot through Sachsen. The second week we go by bike through Sachsen-Anhalt and Thüringen until Ollendorf near Weimar. Ollendorf Water Castle is one of the Open Houses´ buildings and also a pilgrims hostal on the pilgrims route. There we will stay during the last week of our project working together for the maintenance of the castle – in simple conditions, but in a wild romantic and attractive ambience.
Today – probably especially in the middle european culture – we rarely take our time to be on our way by foot, the slowest possibility of movement we are given. We live in haste and hurry, it is most important to get quickly from one place to another and further on. There is no time for calmness and rest, no time to enjoy and to experience the way and the surrounding with its nature and people.
Work mostly is done just for a certain purpose which has to be reached as soon as possible, and not anymore for the work itself, for the work as team-work and as a common event.
Setting for our common adventures and experiences is the Ocumenical Pilgrims Route, which was signed last year along the Via Regia. The roots of the Via Regia go back until the Middle Ages. It was once an important european commercial route and then also pilgrims route for travellers on their way by foot or by horse to Santiago de Compostela. In the beginning 19th century the Via Regia lost its importance, the bustle fall asleep and the route became forgotten.
Meanwhile life has come back to the old route. On the way between Görlitz and Vacha private run pilgrim hostals offer the travellers a simple accomodation for one night for a voluntary donation. By that way the nearly forgotten Via Regia has once again become a line of connection - connecting the different villages and their inhabitants with each other, with the surrounding landscape and with the people that go by, greet and pass, take a rest or ask for a home to stay for one night.
Ollendorf Castle, situated between Weimar and Erfurt, was once an important settlement on the Via Regia. At the end of the 17th century, after the castle had been destroyed by a fire, the manor was rebuilt in a simple rural baroque style. Following the decline of the Via Regia in the 19th century, the site was chiefly used for agricultural purposes. The castle fell into disrepair after having been abandoned for several decades. In 1998 it was taken over by Open Houses association.
Our jobs at Ollendorf Water Castle will be giving assistance in renovating the former pig stable and empty and tidy up some of the castle rooms. We will do some digging-works at the water-ditch of the castle or restorate the old stone bridge.
Work: one week daily walking (trekking: with backpacks), one week daily cycling and one week working at Ollendorf Water Castle
Accommodation: very simply equipped pilgrims lodgings, matresses, sometimes just cold water; Ollendorf: simply equipped rooms on mattresses, shower (cold) and WC inside, very simple kitchen
Location: Next towns:
from Görlitz: Zittau (32 km), Bautzen (40 km) from Ollendorf: Weimar (15 km) and Erfurt (15 km). Region: Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Thuringia
Terminal: Next railway station: there is one in Görlitz from Ollendorf: Weimar (15 km) Next airports: from Görlitz: Dresden, Leipzig, (Frankfurt/Main) from Ollendorf: Erfurt, Leipzig, Frankfurt/Main Age: at least 18
Special requirements: Outdoor equipment (raincoat, walking shoes, backpack...) motivation letter required
Fee: 30 EUR
The Open House
True to our vision to offer room and shelter to those who come along, who are searching, who wish to join in with their individual gifts and talents...
all over the year one of the houses we care for is an 'Open House'. Anybody, without announcement, night or day, can turn up at the door, walk in and stay for a while – a day, a week, a month, as long as he is willing to join those who are already there.
O 1 Lohra Castle 01/03–27/06 min 18 5 ECO/BUILD Open House at Lohra Castle
Taking care of the castle and belonging houses as accommodation for different groups
Project: The Open House is an offer to those who have some time available, who want to escape the noise and hectic of daily (city-) life and search for alternatives.
If you like new experiences and challenges, if you are interested in handicraft, like to meet people of different cultures, have phantasie and a lot of nice ideas and if you do not mind living in very simple conditions – you are heartly welcome.
Base is the readiness for taking the responsibility of the houses and guests and to have engagement and motivation in the jobs you can do. These do not necessarily have to be handicrafts: prepairing food, repairing bicycles, taking care of the guests – there is always a lot of things to do and everyone can find and take his part.
Lohra Castle is situated in the heart of Germany in Northern Thuringia. The castle, which is surrounded by a scenic hilly landscape, is located at the edge of a nature reserve area. Being one of the largest castles in Thuringia, Lohra dates back to the Middle Ages. Today it includes 15 buildings from different times: medieval fortifications, remnants of a tower from the 11th century, a roman chapel, a manor from the Renaissance period as well as stables and granaries from the 19th century. After the castle had been unoccupied for decades, Open Houses started to restore the castle at the beginning of the 1990s and to revive it by cultural activities. Since then, a large number of art workshops, exhibitions, concerts and international meetings have taken place in the castle.
Work: Manual skills are not compelling prerequisites: other skills are as well useful and welcome: cooking, repairing bicycles, caring for guests,....
Accommodation: room with bed; WC and shower (warm) nearby
Location: Next towns: Nordhausen (20 km), Erfurt (80 km). Region: Thuringia
Terminal: Next railway station: Gebra (6 km). Next airports: Erfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Leipzig
Age: at least 18
Special requirements: -
Fee: -
O 2 Lohra Castle or Manor of Wolterslage min 18 5 ECO/BUILD Dates will be announced in July from end of September location will be announced in July end of September until 2005 Project: The Open House is an offer to those who have some time available, who want to escape the noise and hectic of daily (city-) life and search for alternatives.
If you like new experiences and challenges, if you are interested in handicraft, like to meet people of different cultures, have phantasie and a lot of nice ideas and if you do not mind living in very simple conditions – you are heartly welcome.
Base is the readiness for taking the responsibility of the houses and guests and to have engagement and motivation in the jobs you can do. These do not have to be handicrafts: prepairing food, repairing bicycles, taking care of the guests – there is always a lot of things to do and everyone can find and take his part.
Lohra Castle is situated in the heart of Germany in Northern Thuringia. The castle, which is surrounded by a scenic hilly landscape, is located at the edge of a nature reserve area. Being one of the largest castles in Thuringia, Lohra dates back to the Middle Ages. Today it includes 15 buildings from different times: medieval fortifications, remnants of a tower from the 11th century, a roman chapel, a manor from the Renaissance period as well as stables and granaries from the 19th century. After the castle had been unoccupied for decades, Open Houses started to restore the castle at the beginning of the 1990s and to revive it by cultural activities. Since then, a large number of art workshops, exhibitions, concerts and international meetings have taken place in the castle.
The Wolterslage Manor is situated in mid-Altmark, is a typical example of manor house architecture from the second half of the nineteenth century.
Though the architectural design is simple, the brick walls are delightfully detailed. The windows, shutters, doors and mountings are all pieces of rare craftsmanship and despite having not been used as intended and having been abandoned for several years, remain unchanged.
After renovation, the manor will be put at the disposal of groups who wish to carry out particular projects fitting to the peacefulness of the surroundings.
Work: Manual skills are not compelling prerequisite: other skills are as well useful and welcome: cooking, repairing bicycles, caring for guests,....
Accommodation: for Lohra Castle: room with bed; WC and shower (warm) nearby
for Wolterslage Manor: on mattresses, cold water, one shower(warm - if you heat the water with wood).
Location: for Lohra Castle: Next towns: Nordhausen (20 km), Erfurt (80 km). Region: Thuringia for Wolterslage Manor: Next town: Stendal (40 km), Region: Sachsen-Anhalt
Terminal: for Lohra Castle: Next railway station: Gebra (6 km). Next airports: Erfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Leipzig
for Wolterslage: Next railway station: Osterburg (10 km). Next airports: Hannover, Berlin
Age: at least 18
Special requirements: -
Fee: -
From end of June until end of September international Workcamps and Building Weeks take place at Lohra Castle. A stay at the Open House without interruption is possible from March 1st to June 27th and then again from the end of September.
