Trespassing Into History

At the end, only 43 residents were living in the retirement home, and when they finally left at the end of September 2010, the remaining 28 employees lost their jobs.

Since then, the retirement home stands abandoned, snug between a residential area, a small forest and a picturesque paddock.

The history of the institution is quickly recounted.

It had been built in 1957 and was expanded in 1962.

In 2010, it was decided that the advancing architectural and technical requirements for a retirement home could not be met anymore without a significant financial investment. An investment that the owner couldn't afford; so new homes were found for the residents... (more)

NEW PHOTOS ADDED!

In the small village of Rethwisch, which simply means “meadow with reeds”, there has been a noble estate since the late Middle Ages. Later, the Dukes of Holstein-Rethwisch, a collateral line of the Dukes of Holstein-Plön that only existed for 60 years, resided here for a short 30 years. Duke Joachim Ernst of Holstein-Plön had divided off the new principality, but retained it in personal union. On his death in 1671, the Rethwisch line became independent under his third son of the same name, who had the castle built in 1699. However, the last Duke of Rethwisch, Johann Adolf, died childless in 1729...(more)

After going on an extensive exploration tour on my wife's birthday in May 2020, we also took a short trip to a deserted place on my birthday. But this time there were also a few huskies with us! As the CoViD rules in force at the time meant that you were only allowed to travel to another federal state with a valid reason - for example because of work - we had been given a work assignment for our vacation. Two of our friend Ebby's huskies had recently passed their breeding tests, so he had officially commissioned us to take a few photos of them.

We wanted to take these photos on my birthday, and we thought that the remains of the abandoned mineral oil plant would make a nice backdrop....(more)