History of the castle

The extensive estate complex has shaped the townscape of Trebnitz for centuries and is an important testament to regional architectural and cultural history. The entire ensemble – consisting of the manor house (castle), the courtyard of honour, the park, as well as the former residential and farm buildings – is therefore a listed heritage site.

The castle forms the central focus of the complex and is accessed via a representative driveway with a forecourt (cour d’honneur) in front. The historic estate structure included, in addition to the manor house, the inspector’s house, the carriage house, the blacksmith’s workshop with an attached dairy, the laundry, the wheelwright’s workshop, the distillery, as well as various stables and storage buildings. This diversity reflects the former economic importance of the estate and its self-sufficiency.

The years from 1945 onward mark a profound turning point: initially used by the Wehrmacht and then by the Red Army, the building temporarily served as a Soviet command post, accommodation for refugees, and a first point of contact for displaced persons.

In the following decades, it became firmly integrated into community life – as a school (until 1974), a kindergarten (until 1992), as residential and office space, and also as a holiday camp.

After a varied history of ownership, the manor house came into the possession of the von Brünneck family in 1827 through inheritance and remained in family ownership until 1945.

A painting from around 1860 shows the original building as a two-and-a-half-storey neoclassical country house with a central risalit and a shallow gabled roof. Around 1900, the building was extensively remodelled and expanded: with the addition of side wings and the redesign of the central section, it was transformed into a representative manor house in the Neo-Baroque style.

After these alterations, the building appeared around 1920 as a castle-like structure with a mansard hipped roof, a pronounced central risalit, and spacious side wings. This form still shapes its appearance today.

With the founding of the association “Schloß Trebnitz Educational and Meeting Centre” on 20 March 1992, a new chapter began. From 1993 onwards, the building was extensively renovated with support from the federal government, the states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Brandenburg, as well as numerous other partners, in order to transform it into an open place for international educational and exchange activities.

Even during the renovation phase (1992–1998), the first international youth encounters took place – an early sign of the institution’s new direction.

Today, the manor house combines historic architecture with contemporary use. It offers accommodation for 60 people, includes studio spaces and spacious seminar rooms, and is characterized by a distinctive atmosphere shaped by stucco, parquet flooring, and the historic building fabric. Schloss Trebnitz is therefore both a cultural monument and a vibrant place for exchange, education, and international cooperation.

In recent years, additional buildings of the estate complex have been restored and are now used in a variety of ways.

More information under “Campus Schloss Trebnitz”