📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
The history of Open Houses dates back to the mid-1980s, when a group of young people began to restore actual disused village churches. The focus lies on restoration and public use of historical monuments, which allows a long-lasting and effective recovery of the buildings. Currently Open Houses has several historic buildings in its care. All of them are attractive ensembles which display centuries of history. But most of them stood vacant for a very long time and suffered serious structural damage.
💼 What the programme involves
Nearby the youth accommodation houses which are part of Lohra Castle complex there is a campsite which can be used by groups of youngsters, too. An abandoned former agricultural building will be rebuilt into a sanitary house for campers. Therefore it is necessary to construct a water line to this building. An excavator will dig the line and the volunteers will accompany this work by collecting stones and bringing in an insulating layer of sand. Later they will under the guidance of a craftsman lay the water pipes and put afterwards the material which had been digged out back into the ditch. The remaining material will be used to fill holes and to level the ground at other parts of the castle. Furthermore the participants will take care of the outdoor area.
🏠 Accommodation on site
shared rooms with 2 - 5 beds in 3 guest houses, warm shower (limited hot water),
1 camp kitchen (cold water), coal-burning stoves
📍 About the location
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, the history of Lohra Castle begins in the Middle Age.
The castle is more than 1000 years old. Today, it includes 20 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.
The ensemble is situated in the centre of a beautiful forest. For years Lohra Castle was vacant. In the 1990s Open Houses started to restore the castle and to revive it by cultural activities. Since that time, a large number of Workcamps, Building Weeks, art-workshops, exhibitions, concerts and international meetings took place in the castle.
ℹ️ Additional information
Be informed, that the work will take place also on rainy and cold days, so please bring rain jacket, waterproof and strong shoes as well as warm clothes.