BEDHEIM CASTLE

Partner:

Bedheim castle was first mentioned in the year 1169 and was devastated and reconstructed several times in its long history. In the time of German Democratic Republic (GDR) it slowly rotted. Now renovation is done by the family of Ruehle von Lilienstern. A non-profit association is supporting the renovation work and using part of the castle for its own activities. Since 1992 this association has been organizing workcamps. Year by year new working fields has been developed: A social therapeutic nursery was added, the association is running an organic garden and since 2007 the castle also runs a garden cafE and a small castle museum where you can admire the bones of prehistoric dinosaurs, once living in this region.During the last 20 years the castle became a sociocultural center for this remote region: In the castle there is a perfect room for celebrations, around the castle one can find various types of gardens and meadow for goose and goats. In addition there are training courses and c

Work:

Volunteers are invited to help in the care and preservation of this ancient monument. We will work 6 hours daily, to do painting and cleaning inside or to maintain the garden around the castle. In the garden kind of work depends to the season, usually it is harvesting fruits, cutting trees, bushes and hedges.Every year Bedheim castle is part of the nationwide event called aeurooeday of the open monumentaeuro. The castle will be opened in the weekend for guests and we can support with doing some service and show an artistic performance. In the last years volunteers showed a dance and played piano music. There will be the possibility to take on day of during the week as compensation.Study: We may learn more about the following topics: natural beauty of the environment. We can make excursions to places of cultural and historical interest (e.g. Weimar, the city of Goethe and the concentration camp Buchenwald). We can have discussions and lectures about German history, society, culture and

Accomodation:

Bedheim castle offers a simple group accommodation in seminar house. There are beds with mattresses and pillows, but sleeping bag is needed. Meals will be prepared by the group (less meat but a lot of very good vegetables and fruits from the nursery). Warm water is provided from solar collector.

Location:

Bedheim castle is located in the west of Thuringia, close to the Bavarian border. Next bigger town is Coburg (28km away). Bedheim is surrounded by the extraordinary beautiful Franconian landscape.

Requirement:-