Gut Tüschenbek

Deep in the heart of Schleswig-Holstein, nestled within the picturesque Gemeinde Groß Sarau, lies Gut Tüschenbek. This isn’t just another farm; it’s a place where whispers of history intertwine with the gentle rustle of leaves. Gut Tüschenbek’s story begins in 1212, initially known as Toradesdorp. It was a fortified waterburg, a stronghold of the noble Gronow family. The name “Tüschenbek” itself speaks to its location – “between the beks” – nestled between the flowing waters of the Wakenitz and its tributary, the Grönau. The original Gut Tüschenbek stood about 800 meters west of its current location. You can still trace the outlines of this ancient site in the wooded area nearby. Over the centuries, Gut Tüschenbek passed through many hands. From the Mecklenburg von Carlow family to the Dukes of Saxe-Lauenburg, each left their mark. In 1563, the Danish governor Heinrich Rantzau acquired Gut Tüschenbek. He transformed it, building a new complex on the site of the old fortress. This Renaissance-era structure can be seen in the earliest known depictions of Gut Tüschenbek, notably on the Rantzau Table around 1585 and a woodcut from 1590. These images reveal a fortified square courtyard, a characteristic multi-gabled half-timbered house, and a separate farmyard with additional timber-framed buildings. By the late 18th century, Gut Tüschenbek came into the possession of the Lübeck patrician family von Brömbsen. Karl Friedrich von Brömbsen moved the farm to its present location and built a single-story half-timbered manor house. The von Luckner family briefly held the estate, but due to economic hardships, they sold it to Captain J. Stanley Carr in 1828. Carr modernized the farm before emigrating to Australia in 1850. The von Hollen family acquired Gut Tüschenbek in 1849. Karl von Hollen, son of Julius, constructed the villa-like manor house that stands today. He also built the neo-Gothic mausoleum, the family’s final resting place. Today, the manor house serves as the headquarters for the insurance broker Gaedertz & Schneider. While the A20 motorway now cuts through the estate’s agricultural land, the echoes of its rich history continue to resonate at Gut Tüschenbek.