Rescue for Johannstorf Castle: 550,000 euros for emergency roof after fire!

Rescue for Johannstorf Castle: 550,000 euros for emergency roof after fire!

Just a few months ago, on March 1, 2025, the Johannstorf moated castle experienced a devastating fire that almost completely destroyed the building. The roof and upper floor were completely burned out and the historic building has been in danger of collapse ever since. But now there is hope: The German Foundation for Monument Protection has provided the city of Dassow with a generous 550,000 euros to protect the architectural heritage and limit the damage. Loud Baltic Sea newspaper An emergency roof is installed to protect the water-damaged building from further damage.

The money provided will be used to initiate emergency safety measures, which also include the construction of an emergency roof. Architect Cornelius Back already has a clear plan: the flat roof should be completed by autumn 2025. A bridge will be required to bring materials and tools close to the castle. The logistics also include a 48-ton truck crane, which is needed to safely remove fire damage from inside the building, such as the Northern Courier reported.

Johannstorf Castle as a cultural heritage

The castle, an important baroque work and one of the last remaining moated castles in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, was built between 1740 and 1743. Not only was it an architectural masterpiece, but it also served as a filming location for the 2008 film “The White Ribbon”. Mayor Sascha Kuhfuß and deputy Kerstin Weiss have expressed their gratitude for the emergency aid and are calling on the public for further donations to save the historic building. The donation account has been set up and the account details are publicly available.

The damage caused by the fire is significant: much of the interior was almost completely destroyed, but the monument value remains. Dr. Ramona Dornbusch, director of the State Office for Culture and Monument Preservation, expressed concern about the condition of the castle, but hopes that parts of the ground floor will be preserved. The city council of Dassow is now discussing possible future uses for the listed building.

The challenges of fire protection

Historical buildings such as Johannstorf Castle are often under special protection. The challenges with fire protection are enormous as they are often built from combustible materials and do not have to meet all current regulations. Accordingly FeuerTrutz Existing property protection must be taken into account when fire protection measures are taken. Fires can start unexpectedly and spread quickly, which was also observed in the case of the castle.

The extinguishing work was particularly challenging due to the unstable structure and the collapsed roof structure. The fire brigade could only use water cannons because the building was considered unstable throughout the entire extinguishing work. After the fire, smaller pockets of embers had to be extinguished again and again, which made the situation even more difficult. Access to the castle currently remains closed to unauthorized persons in order to further minimize the danger.

Overall, there are many challenges in rebuilding and securing Johannstorf Castle. The support of the German Foundation for Monument Protection is a first step on a long path to restoring this important cultural heritage.