Jugendburg
A Jugendburg, sometimes referred to in English as a youth castle, is a mediaeval castle in German-speaking countries that was converted during the 20th century into a public community centre or educational facility for young people. The sponsors of the original youth castles came mainly from the
Terminology
The term Jugendburg originally referred to the use of castles (Burgen) by young people (Jugend).
The difference between Jugendburgen in this historical sense and Jugendburgen in the sense of castles that were used as
Jugendburgen in the youth movement
In connexion with Jugendburgen one frequently comes across the names Gustav Wyneken, Robert Oelbermann and Karl Oelbermann.
In 1910, the progressive educationalist, Gustav Wyneken, was the chairman of the Bund für freie Schulgemeinden and publisher of its magazine. He also tried to found a new school or "Jugendburg" to serve his progressive educational project based on the concept of upbringing as the "Formation of People in the Sense of a Worldview" (Formung des Menschen im Sinne einer Weltanschauung). For Wyneken it was about a redefinition of the relationships between teacher and pupil. This was to be based on "comradeship" (Kameradschaft) and "leadership" (Führertum).
Using his pedagogical approach, Wyneken influenced the emerging youth movement as an adult from 1912 onwards. Wyneken created the concept of "
Fascinated by Wyneken's ideas, the brothers, Robert and Karl Oelbermann, dreamt of the Jugendburg concept after the
The Jugendburgen were mostly used to create an independent place of encounter whilst also preserving valuable historical monuments and giving them a new and meaningful use.
Nowadays, the aims of a Jugendburg are unchanged; it is about developing young people away from the perceived restrictions and conventions of society.
As the numbers of scouts and youth leagues continued to rise, the castles became international meeting places at which camps could be held.
Jugendburgen in Germany
- Balduinstein Castle in Balduinstein (Rhineland-Palatinate), 1974
- Camburg Castle near Camburg (Thuringia), 1935
- Eichenkreuzburg near Bissendorf (Lower Saxony), 1928
- Schloss Ebersberg near Stuttgart (Baden-Württemberg), 1966
- Feuerstein Castle near Ebermannstadt (Bavaria), 1946
- Gemen Castle near Borken (North Rhine-Westphalia), 1946
- Hessenstein Castle near Vöhl-Ederbringhausen (North Hesse), 1922
- Hoheneck Castle near Ipsheim(Bavaria), 1984
- Singen (Hohentwiel)(Baden-Württemberg), 1956
- Gießen(Hesse), 1924
- Hohnstein (Saxon Switzerland)(Saxony), 1925
- Ludwigstein Castle near Witzenhausen (Hesse), 1920
- Schloss Mansfeld near Mansfeld(Saxony-Anhalt), 1947
- Monschau Castle near Monschau, 1919
- Neuerburg in Neuerburg (Rhineland-Palatinate), 1930
- Rieneck Castle near Rieneck (Bavaria), 1959
- Schloss Rotenberg near Rauenberg (Baden-Württemberg), 1950
- Rothenfels Castle near Rothenfels (Bavaria), 1919
- Schönburg near Oberwesel (Rhineland-Palatinate), 1951
- Pullach im Isartal(Bavaria), 1956
- Stahleck Castle in Bacharach on the Rhine (Rhineland-Palatinate), 1925
- Waldeck Castle near Dorweiler (Rhineland-Palatinate), 1922 (1910)
- Wernfels Castle near Spalt (Bavaria), 1925
Jugendburgen in Austria
- Finstergrün Castle near Ramingstein (Salzburg), 1946
- Weiten(Lower Austria), 1972
- Sittendorf(Lower Austria), 1947
Jugendburgen in Switzerland
- Rotberg Castle near Metzerlen-Mariastein (Solothurn), 1935
References
- ^ Reichenbach, Marie (1978). "Student years: Introductory Note to Part 1". Selected writings, 1909-1953. I.