Rittergut Altenrode, Medieval estate in Schladen-Werla, Germany.
Rittergut Altenrode is an estate in Schladen-Werla surrounded by a sandstone wall roughly 600 meters long that encloses the courtyard and garden areas. The property extends across farmland and forest covering about 205 hectares total.
The estate was first recorded in 1306 as property belonging to Kloster Heiningen monastery and was tied to the monastic administration of the region. Some sandstone blocks in the wall may have come from dismantled Gielde Castle and the former royal residence at Werla.
The chapel built in 1756 served as the spiritual center for local Catholics and also functioned as a schoolhouse for children in the area. The building shows how important this place was to the everyday life of surrounding communities.
The estate sits along a district road connecting Ohlendorf and Werlaburgdorf, making it relatively accessible by car. Visitors should plan ahead since this is a private property with restricted access.
Within the courtyard exists a garden area called Kleine Park that features an integrated grotto, an unusual feature for a rural estate of this kind. This hidden element gives the property an unexpected touch of romantic landscaping design.
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