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Bedheim Castle Bedheim | ICJA20 | 2020-08-29 - 2020-09-12 | RENO,ENVI,CULT | Age: 18 - 26

 

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 café 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 cultural activities available. The aim of this project is to create an atmosphere where people with or without disabilities may come, live and work together without any prejudice against handicap, nationality or religion. The website gives an impression about the specific and very nice character of this place http://schloss.bedheim.de. Inhabitants of the castle are looking forward to meet us, to work with us and hear our suggestions and ideas and to create a peaceful world together!

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. Encounters with kids and people of the region are foreseen. Every year Bedheim castle is part of the nationwide event called “day of the open monument”. 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. You can develop something according your talents. There will be the possibility to take on day of during the week as compensation.

Accomodation and food: 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

Location and Leisure: 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. 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 politics (the German East-West border was only 9 km away from Bedheim). There will be the possibility to encounter with young people of the region and getting to know more about the countries of the participants.

Train/Bus station: Bedheim is 8km from the train station of Hildburghausen and 15km from the train station of Bad Rodach. Airports: Frankfurt/Main, Leipzig, Nuernberg.

Requirements:

Language: eng,ger

Extra Fee: 0

Some basic knowledge of German or English is recommended. Please bring rain and working clothes as well as swim suits, a sleeping bag, slippers, towels and warm pullovers with you. You can also bring a map, pictures or special food items from your country.