Schloss Rausdorf

Schloss Rausdorf stands in the village of Rausdorf in the Saale-Holzland district of Thuringia. It began as a manor called Großbockedra, first recorded in 1378. Over centuries the estate passed through many hands before the Morgenstern family owned it in the early 20th century. They used it as a summer retreat for guests from near and far. In 1940 the family sold the property to the city of Berlin. After the Second World War the new East German authorities placed the castle under the administration of the Kreisrat in Stadtroda. It served first as an orphanage and later as a specialist children’s home. The building remained in public hands until the late 1990s, when Berlin finally sold it. New owners have since transformed parts of the site into community facilities for older people. Visitors now find a quiet country house set among mature trees and lawns. The main building retains its historic character while modern additions house a senior shared-living community called Haus Sorgenfrei. Nearby stand the care service offices and a day-care centre, all arranged around the former school and gymnasium. The grounds offer long views across the Thuringian countryside.