“A forgotten forester’s tale whispers from these walls” The Forsthaus Waldhusen stands before you. This isn’t just any building. It’s a living testament to centuries of Lubeck’s history. It’s a complex of buildings a protected monument in the Kucknitz district. The main house a half-timbered structure dates back to 1765. Imagine its timber beams creaking under the weight of time.Picture the thatch roof swaying gently in the Lubeck breeze.
This wasn’t always a restaurant or event location. For nearly three hundred years it served as a forester’s residence. It was one of Germany’s oldest continuously operating forester’s offices. This Forsthaus served the St Johannis-Jungfrauenkloster foundation. That’s the foundation that still exists today as a women’s residence. It was also home to 14 foresters who protected the surrounding Waldhusen forest. They served the St Johanniskloster. They also dealt with the city’s forest management.
The foresters’ job was far more than just tending to trees. Early foresters acted as guardians. They prevented illegal logging and protected the forest. Think of the challenges they faced. They were responsible for preserving the forest from illegal cutting and grazing. Imagine the conflicts with villagers who held traditional rights to the land.
The Forsthaus Waldhusen evolved over time. In 1807 a grand extension was added. The area around the house became a park. The brickwork features decorative elements. The bricks are from medieval buildings of Lubeck’s Old Town. Even the bricks tell stories. They whisper tales of Lubeck’s rich past.
A famous resident once graced these walls. Emanuel Geibel a Lubeck-born poet spent summers here. He found inspiration in the forest. He wrote his poem Aus dem Walde here. He wrote it in a room that’s still called the Geibel Room. Carl Hermann Haug the forester at the time was his friend. Haug was a keen amateur archaeologist. He unearthed significant finds in the area.
The last forester Hans Rathje Reimers lived here until 2006. After his retirement the Forsthaus sat empty. The St Johannis-Jungfrauenkloster foundation considered selling it. Locals fought to save it. Their efforts were partly successful. A Lubeck couple bought it in 2008. They meticulously restored it. They transformed the building into a restaurant and event space. Today the Forsthaus Waldhusen continues its story. It does so as a vibrant part of the Lubeck community. A combination of gastronomy and tourism. It’s a story of preservation. It’s a story of community. It’s a story that continues to unfold.