"Half Castle" in Langenleuba-Niederhain

Baroque pearl in the Altenburger Land

For years, the abandoned castle in Langenleuba-Niederhain, which has been auctioned off several times in the past, was inaccessible and locked up. After the last change of ownership, the historically valuable building could soon become part of the active Thuringian cultural landscape. In 2021, the striking three-winged building was open to the public for the first time as part of the German Heritage Day. Many visitors were amazed when they took a look inside.

Of course, a castle that has stood empty for many years can never be a bargain property. However, the visitors were unable to comprehend the fact that half the castle came off so badly in past appraisals and was even partially degraded as a demolition object. In fact, the building was only slightly rebuilt after 1945 and the condition today could be much worse. Numerous details from the time of its construction can be seen in the rooms, including original stucco ceilings, some of which are very interesting, as well as ornate fireplaces from the 18th century. A building that absolutely must be preserved and led into a future, ideally as a public focal point, according to the unanimous opinion of the visitors.

Even if there are no exact plans for the castle so soon, the presence on the German Heritage Days and the associated exclusively positive feedback was a first important building block for securing, preserving and future use of the striking monument in the Altenburger Land.

Seems small and narrow compared to the rest of the building today: The open inner courtyard

Stucco ceiling, Half castle Langenleuba-Niederhain

Interesting stucco ceiling in the divided banquet hall of the castle

FAQ

Why is the castle in Langenleuba-Niederhain called "half castle"?

In fact, the term "half castle" is not quite correct, because only the closed inner courtyard of the original four-wing complex was opened up in the mid-19th century by demolishing the southwest wing, presumably due to a lack of light.

In fact, "half castles" or "half manor houses" are found more often than one might expect: more often palaces were structurally altered or reduced in size due to war damage, for example, and missing parts are not always directly visible today. Also, the construction or reconstruction of manor houses was often not realized according to the original plan, or houses remained unfinished for various reasons. A particularly striking example of a half manor house is the palace in Dylew, Mazovia, another not directly visible example is Ribbekardt Castle in West Pomerania (Pałac w Rybokartach)