Schloss Gröbitz

On the edge of the beautiful Saale-Unstrut region lies the village of Gröbitz. The heart of the village, with fewer than 500 inhabitants, is formed by the church and the Schloss – which is not actually a castle but a Herrenhaus des Ritterguts or manor house. However, for the residents of Gröbitz, this is the Schloss.

The Schloss was built in 1512 by Rudolph von Bünau. From this period, the distinctive round stair tower still remains. During the Baroque era (1721), the building was largely reconstructed by the Berlepsch family. The current façade, with its tall, symmetrical windows and first-floor rooms, dates back to this time. Over the centuries, 13 noble families have lived in the building. After World War II, the building was nationalized. Initially, it housed 52 German refugees from Silesia. Later, during the GDR era, it served various community purposes: town hall, daycare center, volunteer fire department, doctor’s office, youth club, library, and more. This varied use left its marks. Over the years, many modifications were made to the building, but fortunately, many authentic elements have been preserved, such as the stately hall on the first floor with its oak flooring and tall, elegant doors.

Bed & Breakfast

In the summer of 2012, we – Katja, Arnoud, and our children Linde and Mila – went on holiday in this region for the first time. We were struck by the abundance of culture and the friendly, hospitable people. The valleys of the Saale and Unstrut rivers are stunning, with extensive vineyards, various small and large towns and villages, and many castles, palaces, monasteries, and ruins. During this holiday, we also visited the Schloss for the first time, which was vacant and up for sale at the time.

As we wandered through the empty spaces, our vague ideas about holiday apartments we could rent out in the summer began to take more concrete shape. The building offers plenty of possibilities for this. On the ground floor, we envision a communal hall and dining area. Additionally, a private apartment, a guest room, and, in a later phase, perhaps a wellness area with a sauna and jacuzzi. In the spacious, shaded garden, there’s already a large terrace, where we imagine adding a small swimming pool. At the front of the building is a small municipal playground – perfect for children.

The first floor of the Schloss is reached via the monumental stair tower. There, you enter a large communal hall. The surrounding rooms can easily be divided into four spacious apartments for four to six people. On the second floor, there’s space for an additional four apartments.

Remodeling

More than 10 years later, in 2023, the renovation is now almost complete. All the communal areas and the apartments on the first floor are fully finished and ready for rental! The plans have been slightly adjusted over time: nothing has been done on the second floor, and that will remain the case for the time being.

The entire project, of course, took far more time, money, and energy than I initially anticipated. We had to overcome many obstacles – with permits, heritage preservation, fire safety, and more. But in the end, we succeeded, and it’s incredibly satisfying to see the result as it is now.