Schloss Goseck

The picture of the castle is taken from their website:

www.schlossgoseck.de

Ray has played a show in Schloss Goseck most years since 2013. This year he plays there next on Friday 26th September but as we were driving nearby, he arranged for his friend Robert to show us around.

It is truly an amazing place. It is built into the side of a cliff and takes advantage of the contours. Built originally as a large church in the eleventh century, one side of the nave was taken down, stone by stone, and the stones reused to create the castle. It was owned by the major family in the area until 1945 when ownership passed to the new state within the DDR. It fell into decay until 1991 when Robert began to look after it. He has worked there ever since and is now the guide. There has been much renovation work with funding from local, state, and the European Union. This is expected to be complete by 2030. Now, you can visit the remaining part of the church and the crypt. There is a café opposite. Next year they plan to open a small number of bedrooms for people to stay.

This male Ginko tree was planted in 1859 then aged around 15 years. It turns a lovely orange colour in October.

The castle is on the right with the remains of the church straight ahead.

Robert is explaining the latest renovations to the castle.

The entrance to the remains of the church which has been lovingly restored. The brown bins show the location of the pillars in the former nave of the original church.

Views from the terrace of the castle.

The crypt of the church at Schloss Goseck is very unusual in that is is taller than most crypts because it does not need to support a great weight above it. The crypt and the altar above it are built into the cliff rather than on flat land underneath the church.

This is left open to allow bats to enter the crypt.

A small chamber at the side of the crypt where bats shelter in the winter.

As well as being home to bats, Schloss Goseck is also home to two different types of bees. One nests on one side of the castle and the other on the other side.