Güstrow - Wanted: Sandstones from the castle renovation in the 1960s
Güstrow Castle is considered one of the most important Renaissance buildings in northern Germany. The façade and roof of the 16th century ensemble are being restored at a cost of around 30 million euros, the majority of which comes from EU funds. The work should be largely completed by the end of 2024, even if the scaffolding will not be completely gone by then and the restoration of the castle bridge will continue until 2025. But most of the work will be done by the end of next year, said Claudia Henning, the responsible project manager at the Schwerin State Building and Property Office, during an on-site visit to the Güstrow city archive on Tuesday.
The restoration will be based on historical sources such as photos, construction documents and plans. "We don't want to be Walt Disney," said Henning, whose grandfather, Johannes Henning, drew up floor plans for restoration work on the palace back in 1923 as a bricklayer and later master builder.
Building researcher Tilo Schöfbeck and restorer Matthias Zahn emphasized the uniqueness of the castle in Germany and Central Europe. "The existing historical photo collection is fantastic," said Schöfbeck. Some of the photos date back to the end of the 19th century and provide detailed information about the numerous decorative chimneys. The largest of them are five meters high, one meter wide and weigh around four tons. "The special thing about them is that every chimney is different," emphasized Zahn.
The history of the castle is varied. During the Thirty Years' War, the warlord on the side of the Catholic League, Albrecht von Wallenstein, resided there from 1628 to 1630.
The building was used as a military hospital, a hospital with a mortuary and, from 1817, as a country workhouse, where people were housed "who became burdensome or dangerous to bourgeois society through idleness, forbidden trades or begging", according to historical records. After 1945, the castle was used as a district party home.
At the time, the Duke of Schwerin wanted to demolish the castle as it was too expensive to maintain. The people of Güstrow opposed his rule and demanded that the castle be preserved, which didn't particularly bother the Duke at first, but somehow impressed him. He abandoned his plans, as Zahn explained: "Without the Güstrowers, the castle would no longer exist."
The current renovation and restoration measures became necessary due to brown rot and dry rot infestation as well as moisture damage and cracks. Extensive renovation work was carried out in the 1960s during the GDR era. There are no original sandstone parts left from this renovation period. "Everything has disappeared. Where did it go? We don't know," lamented building researcher Schöfbeck, who turned to the people of Güstrow. Anyone who knows anything about the whereabouts of the stones should get in touch.
Information on the restoration
Read also:
- A clan member is punished here
- Traffic lawyer warns: Don't talk to the police!
- Will he be convicted as Jutta's murderer after 37 years?
- He also wanted to kill his cousin
- During the GDR era, extensive renovation work was conducted on Güstrow Castle in the 1960s, but unfortunately, there are no original sandstones from that period left.
- The responsibility for the current restoration of Güstrow Castle lies with the Schwerin State Building and Property Office, which is receiving significant funding from the EU.
- The Duke of Schwerin initially considered demolishing Güstrow Castle due to its high maintenance costs, but the local populace successfully advocated for its preservation in the 1900s.
- The unique monuments of Güstrow Castle, including the heavily decorated chimneys, are a testament to its rich history, dating back to the Renaissance era and remaining prominent in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.
Source: www.stern.de
