Ollendorf Water Castle - Workcamp - OH-W11
Germany
Environment
Renovation
Environment
Renovation
Fixed dates
About the project
Ollendorf Water Castle - Workcamp - OH-W11
📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
The history of Open Houses Network dates back to the mid-1980s, when a group of young people began to restore village churches in East Germany in voluntary work to protect them from decay. The initiative to save these buildings brought together people who enjoyed the freedom these activities provided, bringing life again to these places in ways which by far exceed the craftsmen's work done – through exhibitions, concerts, making music together or just sitting by a camp fire.
Today, spaces free of political and ideological pressure are no longer urgently required; nonetheless, it is now rare to find places where people can meet without commercial pressure, free of bureaucracy and institutionalism, free of prejudice and the exclusion which it produces. What should be easy – to go somewhere in order to meet people and to work together – has become difficult. The tightrope walk between, on the one hand, public activities in a monetary and functional sense, and the retreat into private life on the other, is very difficult, and it requires a lot of power and permanent efforts to tackle red tape and financial restrictions.
Free spaces are less and less understood as common property, and are permanently being cut back. The idea of public property seems to have gone out of fashion, and places of common responsible work have become rare.
Open Houses Network tries to create and protect such spaces. In this process, we do not want to be the do-ers. We want to be those who propose vision of initiating a new change in perspective while still being aware of the need to rely in the co-operation of others. We understand our projects and events as offers – as offers to create space for commitment, for changes, for meetings.
💼 What the programme involves
The participants of this Workcamp will help in the conservation of the castle. Thus, the volunteers will do some works from repairing the small wooden bridge to restore the doors and windows. Another task will be to help in the restoration of the stone walls which are surrounding the ensemble. Additionally, the participants will clear up different parts of the ensemble and take care of the green area around by cutting grass and cleaning the ditch, which was previously part of the defensive system around the former water fortress.
🏠 Accommodation on site
shared rooms with beds, warm showers and toilets, camp kitchen
FOOD
The meals will be prepared together as they are part of the community life, what means that every participant will be responsible for the meal at least once during its stay. So it would be very nice if the participants could bring typical recipes from home in order to introduce each other to the preparation of food from all over the world.
📍 About the location
Ollendorf is situated between Erfurt, capital of Thuringia, and Weimar. The small village is surrounded by a beautiful countryside. Ollendorf Water Castle was probably built in the 13th century as a protective fort at the “via regia”. The “via regia” was the most important medieval trading route which ran from Flanders via Frankfurt and Leipzig to Russia. In 1692 the castle had been destroyed by a fire and only the foundations could remain. The current manor house was built in 1694 in a simple rural baroque style, replacing the former castle. Following the decline of the “via regia” in the 19th century, the site was later used for agricultural purposes, and store houses and barns were built. During the last decades, due to long vacancy, the manor fell into disrepair. Since several years Open Houses is active at the Water Castle and could save it from falling apart. Many works has been done since then, both focusing on the restoration of the historical complex and the renaturation of the castle’s surroundings. Due to the young people from different countries, who have lived there and have taken part in its restoration during the last years, the castle changed into a place of creativity and open-mindedness. Ollendorf is a good place to start excursions to important historical and cultural places like Weimar and Erfurt which are not far from the village.
LEISURE TIME
The camp place is situated near a small village in rural Thuringia, so the participants should not expect busy places and normal city activities for the leisure time during the working days. Small trips in walking distance are possible in the afternoon. On the weekends it is possible to organise an excursion to nearby cities or to have other leisure activities.
Usually average temperatures in Germany during the summer time are about 20º C to 30º C; during the night it will get colder. It is possible that there may be three weeks of non-stop sunshine, but every day rain is not impossible either. In September and October it's about 8º C to 18º C.
⚠️ Requirements
Motivation letter related to the project
and CV + photo required
Skype interview will be scheduled for selection.
-Passport
-EU-members should bring their European Health Insurance Card; those which have an individual travel insurance should bring the certificate
ℹ️ Additional information
Volunteers should bring:
-sleeping bag
-stable work boots, really appropriate for practical work
-appropriate clothes, waterproof coat
-mosquito protection lotion
-Dictionary
-typical recipes, sweets, music, instruments and games from the participants' home country for group activities
-More detailed information will be sent later on the infosheet
Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.
Sign in to apply📅 Available sessions
OH-W11
19/07/2020 → 02/08/2020
Volunteers registered
0 / 12
♂ 0/6
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ℹ️ Key information
Age required
18–35 years old
Solidarity donation
0.00
French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).
📍 Location
Erfurter Str. 12, 99423 Weimar, Germany
Germany
🌍 Location info
Local currency
Euro Member Countries (EUR / €)
Timezone
Central European Standard Time
Local time: 21:15 (12/11/2026)
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🗣️ Languages spoken
English
German