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Tavern at Hartenberg Castle with herb garden and infocentre

Help us revive the castle courtyard and build a stylish tavern that allows visitors to enjoy the local surroundings while having a fairtrade coffee, beer or some desserts. Moreover, there will be information centre with souvenirs as a part of the project.

Author: Hartenberg z.s.

EUR 4,936
pledged of EUR 14,593

33%

33% completed

149 contributors pledged

Community, Education

Josefov, Karlovarský kraj, Česko

All or nothing. Project finished on Dec 18, 2017 at 15:11.

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How it started

In 1997, a short ad appeared in the newspapers: a castle for sale. Local newspapers published a very unusual advertisement which soon found an interested individual. The decimated historical property gained a new owner – and ally and a protector. At the very beginning there was a dream, a vision and strong determination but almost no experience, almost no money and mountains of debris to overcome. Luckily, several more enthousiasts appeared as well as the will to make a change. Day by day, for long years the closest companions were buckets, shovels, pickaxe, sieve, countless broken gloves and the everpresent callus on our palms. However, besides the hard work, also new friendships emerged.

On the verge of the century, the new owner started saving something which others condemned as lost forever. He bought an old and devastated ruin of a castle in a picturesque yet deserted landscape at the foot of the Ore Mountains. The former ministerial castle which was rebuilt during the 17th to 19th century to serve various important functions in the border areas, was hit by several intentional fires between 1985 and 1991 . These fires came after the devastating handling of the castle by the state-run farm since 1948. With the support of many volunteers from all over the world, the owner started removing multiple layers of the debris and recycling of the material. At the beginning of the work there was rather a big hill with rich vegetation. The removal had taken many years together with various stabilization and saving operations, archeological work and historical research. The work and activities of the castle has also bonded many people – from volunteers, employees and experts to friends and visitors. From 2000 the condition of the place has improved tremendously. At the moment, two floors of the big palace have been renovated with interesting expositions which document saving actions, the reconstruction, volunteering and life at the castle. The second floor offers a renovated gothic chapel St. Three Kings, volunteers’ hall, and the tower, which lost its roof in 1991, is currently being prepared to be opened. Every year, a piece of something new is being created. Hartenberg has been open for public for two years now and thus people are becoming aware of the existence of the castle again. .

What is our goal

The goal of the project is to build a simple but stylish castle tavern with an outdoor terrace with a view of the whole castle area, where the visitors will be able to enjoy not only the genius loci of the place but also special beer from a mini-brewery, fair trade coffee, local herbal teas, pancakes and other delicacies. There will also be a small info-center attached to the building which will sell souvenirs. We wish to offer a bit of comfort to the visitors and better use the potential of the castle also in case of bad weather. The idea is to sell various fair trade products in order to raise awareness about these products among the public – about the added value, their story and availability. This tavern will be built in the right part of the courtyard close the existing herbal garden and the southern castle terraces. At the moment, this place is taken by an unused courtyard building. We trust that the new facilities will also serve as a space for organizing various workshops and meetings which will develop other aspects of the work. 

Details

Initially, the castle with a 800-year history, which almost did not survive the administration by the former regime was intentionally put on fire in 1985 and completely devastated. The ruin found a its new owner in 1997. The new owner started the complex reconstruction with the help of volunteers and friends. From 2000 there is ongoing stabilization, saving and construction work ongoing, hand-in-hand with archeological and heritage supervision. At the moment, Hartenberg offers a rich cultural life thanks to various events, as well as encounters with the history of the place thanks to commented guided tours and examples of the renovations. The castle became an international volunteer base thanks to the active involvement of volunteers from all of the world.

What we miss are better facilities which would offer the visitors the possibility to sit down and refresh themselves. The plan is to finish the wall and the roofing of the courtyard building of the castle as the space which would be used for the tavern. The tavern will offer refreshments, fair trade coffee and special beer, as well as shelter against occasional bad weather. A part of this building will also be a small info-center with souvenirs and entrance tickets. The products sold in the tavern will be mainly fair trade because this is what we want to promote at the castle. The space and facilities will be further used for cultural and educational events but also for the craftsmen who will come later to build the trusses and the roof. From the collected money we would like to buy mainly construction material, beams, planks, bricks etc. and also for the fencing, chairs and tables on the terrace.

and something extra

From the year 2000 more than 1000 volunteers from 74 countries contributed to the reconstruction of the castle. Hartenberg has become an international volunteer academy and its activities are still growing. Some years ago, the association Hartenberg started a social business and a building workshop which is employing and educating people on the edge of society and it teaches them the old craft. The building workshop Hartenberg is a well-known company among people interested in the reconstruction of heritage sites in the region. In 2016, the saving and reconstruction work on Hartenberg has won the highest price NPÚ-Patrimonium pro futuro. We organize a range of popular cultural events with high attendance of people and we actively contribute to the local community life. We are also busy with environmental education. We strongly identify with the saying that the road is already the goal and we will be happy to show you this during your visit at the castle. There is a lot of work ahead but we do not allow it to be an obstacle to having a good life and to enjoying the place already today. The whole process of renovation, the return to crafts and the roots, as well as facilitating the encounters of people we consider to be the biggest contribution for the region and beyond.

Who are we?

We are a group of enthousiasts and fools who independently on each other wandered off to these western hills and on the path they came across this mysterious ruin that once used to be a prosperous estate whose story charmed us all. We fell in love with this place and we started doing everything possible to renew its beauty and sense because we believe that it is important. We a team who is not afraid of work and who is always searching for purpose and fulfillment in what we are doing. We are not interested only in the renovation of something historically precious, we mainly aim to return life into a place which hosted and co-created many stories and lives and that offers a wide range of possibilities also today. Of course, it is not only about couple of people who started the project once upon a time. It includes many more people who came across this place and who have become a part of the castle story which is very dynamic.

Why are we doing this?

We like it and we believe that such strong places and stories are needed, especially in today´s rushy world. Our long endeavour has been invested especially into the castle and into the collaboration with people, the development of the community and so far, we did not yet have the capacity to dedicate much energy and resources into the creation of better facilities. We would like to change this and that is why we now initiate the project of the castle tavern. We trust that you will like to support our work at Hartenberg and also find a way to visit us. We are convinced that through the creation of the castle tavern the turnout of visitor will rise as well as their interest and contentment with the service. Together we can create a possibility to organize further workshops and meetings which will move us further. With grateful thanks for your time taken for reading these lines and for the support offered. We are very grateful for it and we invite you for a castle visit in 2018.

Your Team Hartenberg

Project links

Comments

Choose reward for your contribution

  • sold 14
    Small, but very nice

    Thank you very much for your kind contribution and we send a hug and a cordial invitation to Hartenberg.

     

    Reward delivery: not specified

    EUR 1.97
    (CZK 50)

  • sold 18
    Nice help - a postcard with thank you notes

    We will deliver you a postcard worth 100 CZK + postage with castle renovation picture and inscribed wishes and a quotation for you.
     

    Reward delivery: on address, in a week after the Hithit project end

    EUR 4.73
    (CZK 120)

  • sold 13
    Good feeling - a metal plate + castle ticket

    You can collect this reward at the castle or we can send it to you. It is a nice metal plate with a castle logo or picture and a castle entrance ticket and an embedded wish card with a message for you.
     

    Reward delivery: on address, in a month after the Hithit project end

    EUR 5.92
    (CZK 150)

  • sold 9
    Nice help - key chain with logo + ticket.

    A very nice metal key chain with a logo and a heart that can also serve as an opener + a castle ticket and an embedded wish card with a message for you. You can pick it up here or we can send you by post.
     

    Reward delivery: on address, in a month after the Hithit project end

    EUR 9.86
    (CZK 250)

  • remaining 23 from 40
    Great help - beautiful pottery mug.

    A nice pottery mug made on order with a castle picture or other motif in a gift box + a castle ticket and a message inserted directly for you. Possible to pick up here or we can send it to your address.

    Reward delivery: on address, in a month after the Hithit project end

    EUR 13.80
    (CZK 350)

  • remaining 9 from 20
    A gift from the castle that smells and tastes nice.

    A beautiful, original pottery mug + a bag of herbs from the castle garden made with love and care + a castle ticket and a message only for you. You can pick it up here or we can post it.
     

    Reward delivery: on address, in a month after the Hithit project end

    EUR 17.75
    (CZK 450)

  • sold 28
    A tasty help we can enjoy in the new tavern.

    Beer or fair coffee, pancake of the castle master or other goods of your choice in the new castle tavern with a castle tour all for 2. You can use it also in 2018, we will send a voucher.

    Reward delivery: in a year after the Hithit project end

    EUR 19.72
    (CZK 500)

  • sold 8
    Castle tour with a special guide + screening of archive film

    All-inclusive guarded tour of the castle with a screening in the volunteer hall, followed by refreshments in the pub and selection of a souvenir for 2.

     

    Reward delivery: in half a year after the Hithit project end

    EUR 23.66
    (CZK 600)

  • sold 1
    A bottle of Moravian wine with a picture of a castle for a relaxing evening

    A bottle of red or white Moravian wine, according to your choice with a dedication + 2x ticket to the castle and a wooden magnet as a souvenir. We can send by post or you can pick it up here.

    Reward delivery: in a month after the Hithit project end

    EUR 27.61
    (CZK 700)

  • sold 2
    Very nice help - a gift from the castle - the rescue package

    The best gift for all men, including a nice metal lighter, a plate, a tin opener + 2x ticket to the castle. You can pick it up here or we will send you by post.

    Reward delivery: on address, in a month after the Hithit project end

    EUR 29.58
    (CZK 750)

  • sold 14
    Very good help - a great castle T-shirt and tickets

    A nice castle T-shirt with picture of the castle or logo in white, black, brown color, different sizes + 2x ticket with refreshment in the tavern and a greetings card.
     

    Reward delivery: on address, in a month after the Hithit project end

    EUR 39.44
    (CZK 1,000)

  • sold 3
    Luxury help - tickets to castle events in 2018

    Free entrance to all castle events in 2018 for 2 - Hartenberg Feast, Hartenberg Scare, St. Nicolas Ride, Hartenberg Vintage and a postcard with thanks and wishes. To pick it up at the castle or we will send you by post.
     

    Reward delivery: on address, in a month after the Hithit project end

    EUR 59.16
    (CZK 1,500)

  • remaining 14 from 15
    Super solid help - Gift set (possibly Christmas)

    Gift package with a very nice pottery mug, plate, magnet, T-shirt, lighter, key chain + 2x castle ticket + 2018 event tickets for 2. We send by post or it is available to pick up here as well.

    Reward delivery: on address, in a month after the Hithit project end

    EUR 118.32
    (CZK 3,000)

  • remaining 8 from 10
    Adventure help - Minicourse of construction workshop - How to build a castle

    Minicourse Construction workshop will offer you to discover stone masonry, to try to construct vaults, and even the shawl or carpentry. Theory, demonstrations, possibility to try it out with supervision. 2 days including lunch, and you can sleep over but we will adapt it according to your individual needs.  

    Reward delivery: in half a year after the Hithit project end

    EUR 138.04
    (CZK 3,500)

  • remaining 1 from 5
    Extra help - Hartenberg beer special barrel of 30 litres

    Customed brewed beer from the brewery, 30 litre barrel with a dedication + unlimited 30x castle tickets. To pick it up with us or we will arrange its import to you.

    Reward delivery: in a quarter after the Hithit project end

    EUR 157.76
    (CZK 4,000)

  • sold 0
    Super help - rent a volunteer hall at the castle

    Rent of a Volunteer Hall on the 2nd floor of the castle, the possibility of screening + a common tour of the castle + a good coffee with a cake for everyone, up to 40 people from May to October. We will send a voucher.

    Reward delivery: not specified

    EUR 197.20
    (CZK 5,000)

  • sold 0
    Super help - rent a castle chapel

    The possibility to arrange a wedding ceremony in the decorated chapel of the Holy Trinity for those who like to try something new, upon agreement. We will decorate and prepare the space for weddings + free tickets to the castle. We' will send you a voucher.

    Reward delivery: not specified

    EUR 197.20
    (CZK 5,000)

  • sold 0
    Charismatic help - rent of castle tavern

    You can rent a new castle tavern by appointment, suitable for private celebrations, business meetings, workshops and more. We will add an interesting tour of the castle up to 40 people and a little castle souvenir for everyone. We will send you a voucher.

    Reward delivery: not specified

    EUR 236.64
    (CZK 6,000)

  • sold 4
    Mega Help - Great Thanks - Your name or the name of your company in the volunteer hall

    Perpetuation of the name of the individual or the name of the company on the honorary board of donors inside the Volunteer Hall in the castle + free tickets to the castle + entrance to the castle events (up to 40 pcs) according to the agreement. We will also publish acknowledgments on the web and facebok of the castle and we will add a one-time lease of space according to your choice during the year upon agreement. We will send a voucher.

    Reward delivery: in a month after the Hithit project end

    EUR 394.40
    (CZK 10,000)

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