Perhaps, you might think the Forsthaus Rote Schleuse got its name from a forester’s house near a red-painted Ilmenau lock. But that is not the case at all. The Rote Schleuse has a fascinating story.
Back when Lüneburg needed lots of wood to fuel the salt-making pans, the city’s wood supervisor lived here. This person was known as the “Holz- und Landwehrknecht.” Because much wood was cleared here, a cleared field emerged. This field became known as the Rote Feld in the local dialect.
At this Rote Feld, there was a lock. It was initially named Vasmersche Schleuse after its owners. Later, it simply became known as the Rote Schleuse. This wasn’t a lock in the Ilmenau River. It was a Stauschleuse or a barrage lock in the Hasenburger Bach. It was located where the Hasenburger Bach flows into the Ilmenau, very close to the Forsthaus.
This lock and four others upstream could raise the water level. This would flood the surrounding land, making it impassable. This forced traders and merchants entering Lüneburg to use a higher, fortified road into the city. At the control post, they had to pay customs duties, which they would have otherwise avoided.
In 1819, Johann Herrmann Friedrichs became the “Holz- und Landwehrsknecht zur Rothen Schleuse”. Other job titles included “Holzvoigt” or “Forstaufseher”.
The German Customs Union was founded in 1833. It came into effect on January 1, 1834. This eliminated internal German customs duties. So, there was no longer a need to monitor and enforce customs payments for Lüneburg. This task was previously done using the Landwehr and by flooding the area.
Lüneburg and its surroundings already had some forest restaurants. Johann Herrmann Friedrichs, who was now just a forest supervisor, asked the city’s Chamber for permission to run a coffee and forest restaurant in the Forsthaus. Permission was granted in 1840. This marked the beginning of the Forsthaus Rote Schleuse as a restaurant.
In its nearly 200-year history, the Forsthaus Rote Schleuse has seen many changes. The hosts have always been dedicated to their guests, often staying for many years or decades. The Forsthaus has been a holiday guesthouse with rooms upstairs. It has been a popular restaurant near the “new Roteschleuse sports field with a cycling track.” It has been a restaurant for campers at the nearby campsite. At times, it was a “restaurant with upscale cuisine.”
The Rote Schleuse gained cult status, becoming like a second living room for the people of Lüneburg. Round birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and celebrations were held here. People took trips here on foot, by horse-drawn carriage, by bicycle, and later by car.
The Lüneburg press has always paid close attention to the Forsthaus and its hosts. When the restaurant closed for a long time, it was met with public regret. Its reopening was celebrated with equal enthusiasm.
In 2016, Henning Claassen, an entrepreneur from Lüneburg, took over the Forsthaus from Peter Schilde. Schilde had managed it for 34 years. Claassen is known in Lüneburg for restoring many buildings in the Lüneburg water district. He had the Hotel Bergström built there. The Bergström became a main location in the ARD television series “Rote Rosen” under the name “Drei Könige.”
Claassen commissioned the architectural firm GMA to renovate the Forsthaus Rote Schleuse. The renovation was carefully coordinated with the historic preservation authorities. The building was gutted and completely renovated. This included a modern kitchen and restrooms.
In 2023, Hans-Benedikt Barthe from Lüneburg took over the Forsthaus Rote Schleuse after a long closure. Barthe decided to quit his management job at a Europe-wide system catering company. He focused all his energy on reopening and reviving the Forsthaus Rote Schleuse.
In June 2023, over 30 relatives and friends helped to get the house, yard, restaurant, kitchen, garden, and playground back in shape. His brother’s wedding in the Forsthaus Rote Schleuse was a rehearsal for the reopening. The location came back to life and hosted a cheerful celebration.