Rittergut Besenhausen, Manor estate in Friedland, Germany
Rittergut Besenhausen is a manor estate in Friedland featuring a 1690 manor house as the centerpiece, surrounded by courtyards, baroque gardens, and farm buildings positioned along the Leine River. The property encompasses several structures and outbuildings that were added over centuries of occupation and use.
The property was first mentioned in 1307 and later belonged to the von Hanstein family, who built defensive walls and ditches around a Renaissance building in 1540. These fortifications continue to define the physical layout of the complex today.
The converted sheep barn now hosts art exhibitions and concerts as part of the Besenhausen Summer Festival programming. This transformation demonstrates how working farm buildings become centers for contemporary artistic activity.
The property features a cafe serving fresh cakes and specialty coffee drinks with outdoor seating in the garden area for leisurely visits. The location along the river provides a peaceful setting where visitors can explore the grounds on foot at their own pace.
The estate houses a 1949 Customs House that processed over two million people crossing the inner-German border between 1945 and 1956. This building marks a pivotal moment when this location served as a major crossing point during the division of the country.
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