Picture this a quaint village nestled near Lubeck. This is Groβ Schenkenberg. Its history stretches back to 1194. Records mention it then as Pukentorpe. A much grander name Scenkenberge appeared in 1230. The name honors Albrecht II of Weimar-Orlamünde’s cupbearer. Groβ Schenkenberg wasn’t always a village. The estate was initially part of the Bliestorf office. It transformed into a settlement in 1929. In 1936 it merged with Rothenhausen.
Groβ Schenkenberg’s location is quite special. It sits on the southern banks of the Grinau River. Today the Grinau flows into the Elbe-Lubeck Canal. The landscape is hilly. It’s part of the Ostholsteinisches Hügel- und Seenland. This is a sub-region of the Schleswig-Holsteinisches Hügelland. The village includes the main village itself. Gut Rothenhausen is also included. The Ziegelhof group of houses completes the picture. Neighboring communities include Klein Wesenberg Lubeck Westerau Grinau and Bliesdorf.
A fascinating fact few know is the village’s connection to renowned figures. Wilhelm Stahl a music pedagogue organist musicologist and music librarian was born here in 1872 on Ziegelhof. Another notable resident was Henning Karl Christian von Rumohr. He acquired the Rothenhausen and Groβ Schenkenberg estates in 1778. The von Rumohrs are considered old nobility in Schleswig-Holstein. Henning gained fame as a prominent art historian of his time. His son Carl Friedrich also left his mark as a noted art historian.
Groβ Schenkenberg has a thriving community spirit. The SC Rothenhausen sports club is a testament to this. Founded in 1969 as TTC Rothenhausen it was renamed in 1977. It offers football and table tennis. Football had a brief hiatus from league play between 2016 and 2021. A men’s team returned to the Kreisklasse C in Stormarn in 2021. Youth teams are in the pipeline ready to join the league next year.
The village’s coat of arms is unique. It’s divided diagonally by a silver wavy bar. The top half is red with two leaves on a common stem. The bottom half is green with a silver hoe pointing outwards. The coat of arms is a visual representation of the village’s history and character. Groβ Schenkenberg is more than just a village. It’s a place steeped in history. It’s also a place where community and natural beauty blend harmoniously. So take a moment to appreciate Groβ Schenkenberg. Let its story resonate with you. Remember the fascinating people who called this place home.