The Site
Lohra Castle, located in northern Thuringia, Germany, is one of the region’s most representative medieval fortifications. The site is located in the vicinity of important trade routes that connected the medieval world of Central Europe. Though its present form is modest, the castle continues to command a striking position within the hilly landscape near a natural reserve. With a history spanning over a thousand years, the site reflects multiple layers of architectural evolution, shaped by shifting political, economic, and social contexts over the centuries. Its fortified walls, defensive structures, and historic economic buildings offer valuable insight into the regional history of castle complexes and the adaptations they underwent to remain functional across different periods.
The architectural ensemble of Lohra Castle presents a rich assortment of historical styles, with elements dating back to the 11th century. Among its most remarkable features is a Romanesque double-floored chapel from the 12th century, an exceptional structure that highlights early medieval religious architecture. Traces of medieval fortifications and towers, as well as a Renaissance-era manor house, further illustrate the site’s transformation from a medieval defensive stronghold into a more residential and agricultural complex. The 19th- and early 20th-century agricultural buildings, including stables, granaries, and storage barns, demonstrate how the castle evolved into a centre for regional agricultural production.
Despite its historical significance, Lohra Castle was abandoned for several decades, leading to neglect and structural deterioration. In the 1990s, the site was rediscovered and revitalised through the efforts of Open Houses, the parent organisation of European Heritage Volunteers, which has since used the castle as a base for heritage conservation, cultural initiatives, and international collaboration. Today, it serves as a centre for hands-on conservation projects, training courses, and volunteer-driven heritage initiatives, welcoming participants from across the world to engage with its unique built heritage.
Over the years, Lohra Castle has become a dynamic venue for heritage conservation, artistic expression, and cross-cultural learning. Annual projects focus on gradual, sustainable conservation efforts, particularly on the preservation of its historic structures through traditional craftsmanship. The castle’s ongoing conservation initiatives illustrate the importance of long-term commitment in heritage preservation, ensuring that its rich architectural heritage and historical significance remain safeguarded for future generations.
The Project
The European Heritage Volunteers Project at Lohra Castle continues a long-term conservation initiative focusing on the conservation of historic roof structures. Every year there have been interventions carried out on various roofs within the castle ensemble, with conservation efforts in recent years primarily dedicated to the 19th-century sheep barn, the largest building of the ensemble, located within the castle’s economic and agricultural area.
This year, work will continue on the former sheep barn’s roof structure, ensuring its structural stability and long-term preservation, while conservation activities will also extend to the roofs of other historic economic and agricultural buildings within the castle complex. These buildings, situated within the outer castle area, have their origins in the medieval period, with subsequent modifications in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, reflecting the evolving agricultural and economic functions of the site. Their preservation contributes to a broader understanding of the castle's historic production infrastructure and its role in sustaining the livelihoods of those who lived and worked within its walls.
The hands-on conservation work will be led by a carpenter specialising in traditional timber conservation, ensuring that all interventions adhere to historical carpentry techniques. At the sheep barn, the participants will continue the structural stabilisation and repair of its roof structure, focusing on replacing damaged wooden elements with handcrafted components, carefully selected to match the original construction techniques. As in previous years, the work will prioritise minimal intervention and maximum material retention, with damaged sections being repaired rather than replaced wherever possible. Likewise, work on other roofs within the economic buildings will follow the same philosophy, reinforcing timber frameworks and replacing degraded components using historically appropriate methods. The use of traditional carpentry techniques instead of modern industrial fittings aligns with sustainable conservation principles, reducing reliance on mass-produced materials and preserving traditional craftsmanship skills.
A defining characteristic of this project is its continuity, with successive groups of participants contributing each year to the careful and methodical advancement of conservation goals. This slow repair process reflects a sustainable approach to heritage conservation, where interventions are measured, deliberate, and respectful of historical structures. The emphasis on resource-conscious repairs, including the reuse of historic materials, supports broader sustainability objectives in heritage conservation and aligns with the New European Bauhaus principles, which advocate for craftsmanship, sustainability, and cultural continuity.
The educational programme will complement the practical conservation work, offering guided visits to a historic city centre with some of the best-preserved timber-framed structures in the region, as well as discussions on traditional craftsmanship in heritage conservation. The project is embedded within the broader context of European Heritage Volunteers’ commitment to hands-on training in traditional crafts, ensuring that skills in timber conservation are passed on to future generations of heritage professionals.
Additionally, one element of the educational programme will be the participants’ presentations, where participants will share heritage conservation efforts from their home countries, with a particular focus on traditional timber craftsmanship, historical carpentry techniques, and the conservation and repair of vernacular wooden structures. Through these exchanges, the participants will reflect on regional approaches to timber conservation, compare conservation philosophies, and discuss the challenges of preserving wooden architectural heritage in different climatic and cultural contexts. The presentations will serve as a platform for knowledge-sharing and professional dialogue, enriching the overall learning experience.
The combination of hands-on conservation work, expert-led training, and structured discussions strengthens the project’s role in promoting sustainable conservation and the transmission of traditional craftsmanship. The slow and methodical restoration approach applied at Lohra Castle highlights the value of heritage sites as long-term learning environments, where conservation is not only conducting necessary repairs but also about understanding materials, historical construction methods, and sustainable approaches to architectural preservation. Through direct engagement with traditional building techniques, the participants gain both practical skills and a deeper appreciation for the importance of caring for historic structures in a way that respects their authenticity and long-term integrity.
The project will take place from July 20th to August 2nd, 2025 and is organised by European Heritage Volunteers.
