Baumbach Castle Germany
History, Pictures, Baumbach Family Reunion of the Baumbach Castle
Introduction
They have really improved the Castle over the years, you need to see their updated website at https://tannenburg.de
There is so much at the Castle now, there is a restaurant, beer garden, you can rent it, Castle festival & medieval market, and much more, check out the Tannenburg website.
Here is this website:
Information about the history of the Baumbach Castle in Germany.
Baumbach Family Reunion that took place at the Castle in September 2000.
Pictures from four trips that my family took to Germany in 1984, 1996, 2000, and 2002.
The German von Baumbach family in Germany.
The Castel has a restaurant pub and an apartment that have been added to the Baumbach Castle, so you can eat there and spend the night.
There is also information from two, THREE, now FOUR trips made to Germany; one by my Father made in 1984, by me in July 1996, September 2000 and September 2002.
In 1984 my father, mother, grandmother (mothers mother)
In 1996 I there with Regina, Jennifer and Mark
In 2000 I was there with Regina, Willie, Lisa, and my brother Andy, also Pairs France.
In 2002 I was there with Regina only, also Egypt for 10days, Rome Italy for 3days, Swiss airport, one night Disney in Pairs.
The Baumbach Castle
Location
The Castle is located about 30 minutes East of Alheim-Baumbach off highway #27 in the town of Nentershausen a small farming village close to the River Hasel. Its about 150 miles north of Frankfurt near Eisenach, Bebra and Bad Hersfeld. To get to Nentershausen from the airport in Frankfurt take the Autobahn nr 5 north to Kirchheim then turn right to the Autobahn nr 4 to "Wildeck-Obersuhl," then leave the Autobahn going left to Nentershausen about 6 miles. Or by train it is easy to get from Frankfurt north to Bebra.
Built in about 1350 by Ludwig Baumbach a "Strikt Knight" in the 1700?s, the Baumbachs left the castle since it had lost its meaning for defense because of the invention of the canon. They built several farms all over Germany after they sold most of their land in Nentershausen to the king. In about 1850 several Baumbachs immigrated to America. Over the last 300 hundred years the castle has been falling apart, but there are still three main buildings that are worth restoring. Ten years ago the german state funded about one million dollars to restore it but since the reunion of East and West-Germany all the money goes to East-Germany which is much more destroyed then the West. So the rebuilding of the castle had to be stopped or slowed down. Now, most of the work is done by the friends of the castle and the farm-workers of Friedrich von Baumbach. The castle is popular in Germany and is visited by many vacationers and tourists.
The castle is located in the little village of Nentershausen 150 miles north of Frankfurt near Eisenach, Bebra and Bad Hersfeld. To get to Nentershausen from the airport in Frankfurt take Autobahn nr 5 north to Kirchheim then turn right to the Autobahn nr 4 to "Wildeck-Obersuhl," then leave the Autobahn going left to Nentershausen about 6 miles. Or by train it is easy to get from Frankfurt north to Bebra.
History of the Baumbach Castle
Information and history on the Baumbach Castle in Germany. Also known as the Tannenberg Castle, Tannenberg translates to "Castle in the Trees" Baumbach translates to Tree (Baum) Brook or stream (Bach)
The Baumbach Castle was built in about 1350 by Ludwig Baumbach a "Strikt Knight." (translates to "strict knight") In the 1700’s the Baumbachs left the castle since it had lost its meaning for defense because of the invention of the canon. The Baumbachs family's built several farms all over Germany after they sold most of their land in Nentershausen to the king.
There are two towns in Germany with the name Baumbach in them but no Baumbachs live there. In about 1850 several Baumbachs immigrated to America. The castle is popular in Germany and is visited by many vacationers and tourists for around the World.
When the Baumbach Castle was abandoned in left empty, the towns people in the village below started stripping the Castle of its rock walls to use them for houses and building in the village. The Castle as been slowly getting rebuilt and repaired.
An association named The Friends of Tannenberg was established to raise money and to repair the castle, the German State, businesses and individuals have donated small and large sums on money. I have personally donated thousands of dollars to the Friends of Tannenberg association. The ownership of the Castle was transferred from the Baumbachs to the Friends of Tannenberg association to encourage more donations, because when the castle was owned only by the Baumbachs, the locals were less likely to donate any money.
A Florida newspaper in 2000 reported the German State founded about $1 million to restore the Castle (I think this went mostly to the new roof, then money ran out) but since the reunion of East and West Germany all of the money goes to East Germany which is much more destroyed than the West.
Video Professionally done video created by William (Bill) Losch. Copies of this video are for sale on VHS CD or DVD please contact
Old contact info, might not be good
William Losch
25 2nd Street Suite 310
St. Petersburg Florida 33701
727-409-5940
WilliamLosch@Hotmail.com
Video about the Baumbach Castle
William Losch of St. Petersburg Florida created this video after my trip to the Castle in 2000. I do not think I received a copy of the video until about 2007-2009.
Donations are greatly appreciated and all proceeds will be sent to Germany to pay for the restoration and repairs to the castle. (2023-09-14 NEED TO CHEK ON THIS)
You can download this 38mg video here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1231YTAriSZKq0sNwDDWT_mmsIGuB6uWm/view?usp=drive_link
My father, mother and grandmother visited the Baumbach Castle in 1984, it was a side trip they made while they were on Cruise Ship with the Kena Shriners. In Twelve years later in 1996 I visited the Castle for the first time with my then US German girlfriend Regina, as I do not speak German, it was very convenient having my own personal translator.
The Baumbachs from around the World had a family reunion at the Baumbach Castle on September 12, 2000.
Again with my then US German girlfriend Regina, my Brother Andy B. Baumbach, my son William J. Baumbach II, and my daughter Lisa M. Baumbach.
Verry said, Friedrich "Budi" Wilhelm von Baumbach brother Bodo passed away less than two months after this trip, on November 02, 2000.
In the History section, there are pictures and information about the two towns with the name Baumbach in them and the names and information about the German Von Baumbach family.
The Friends of Tannenberg
The Baumbach castle is owned by a German based non-profit association by the name of The Friends of Tannenberg. The membership is made up of several Baumbachs, a few that are directly related and a few that are not. Most members are non-Baumbachs who are just generally interested in historical castle's in Germany. As of 2000 there are about 60 dues paying members. I pay dues in the amount of about $25.00 or about $24.00 EUR yearly to be a member. During one of my trips to see the castle I attended the annual association meeting and was voted in as a board member for the year 2000 to be the liaison between Germany and members located in America. My girlfriend, brother, son and daughter are also members.
The Friends of Tannenberg Donations
This information about donations is very old, please do not use it, I will see if I can get updated information about how to make a donations to The Friends of Tannenberg or Baumbach Castle at this time.
Please to NOT mail your dues or small donations directly to Germany because the German bank charges a fee of about $15.00 every time a check is deposited. Please mail them to me and I will collect all the money and mail it using one large check.
Euro Dollar
Germany has switch from using the DM (Deutsche Mark) to the new EUR (Euro) as of 06-2001 the exchange rate was about. 2 DM = 1 US or 200.00dm = $100.00us 0.98 EUR = 1 US or 98.00eur = $100.00us
Websites in Germany
www.Von-Baumbach.de Friedrich's "Gutshof" hotel / farm. in German. Added 01-21-09, now Baumbach Mediation 09-14-23
www.Allerley.de the Baumbach castle Added 01-21-09 redirects to http://tannenburg.de 09-14-23
www.Tannenburg.de it in German New web site added 09-15-04 working 09-14-23
www.Tannenberg.org with information about the history of the Baumbachs and Castle in Germany. Bill Losch from Florida put it together. SITE NOT WORKING 09-24-2003 New web site still NOT WORKING 01-21-2009 Still not working 09-14-2023
Preserve our Baumbach family history.
Over the last 300 hundred years the castle has been falling apart, but there are still three main buildings that are worth restoring. In about 1990 the German state funded about one million dollars to restore it but since the reunion of East and West-Germany all the money goes to East-Germany which is much more destroyed then the West. So the rebuilding of the castle had to be stopped or slowed down. Now, most of the work is done by the friends of the castle and the farm-workers of Friedrich von Baumbach.
Having to withstand the elements over many thousands of years the condition of the castle is starting to deteriorate and is in desperate need of repairs. With no forthcoming funds from the German state the Baumbachs and friends of the castle in the USA and Germany have formed a non-profit Association called The Friends of Tannenberg an association dedicated to preserving and restoring the castle. In becoming a member you would help this Association to restore and preserve the castle by raising money and keeping it a historical monument for all Baumbachs and friends for generations to come.
If the castle is to survive for future Baumbach generation it is imperative that money be raised. You can help by joining The Friends of Tannenberg!
Plans are being made to set aside a room in the castle as a Baumbach family museum to display the original historical artifacts that are now in storage. It is thought that people who donate money for this cause would have this fact engraved on a plaque and displayed in the room forever. If you have any suggestions or can help in fund raising please contact us.
I know; you don't have to say it; everywhere you turn someone is trying to get money out of your pocket, I feel the same way too. What can I say; if you are a Baumbach decedent this is one of the few things you can spend money on that will actually be directly related to your ancestors and appreciated by your decedents. The Baumbach family name is a name to proud of. I think it would be a great feeling to know that you have helped keep a historical landmark around for your decedents and theirs. If your ancestors are not Baumbachs I guess you will just have to have a love for old historical castles.
Visit and spend the night at the Baumbach castle
Contact's updated 06/03/2019 last confirmed 09/20/2023
Friedrich-Wilhelm von Baumbach "Budi"
Finkenweg 81
36251 Bad Hersfeld
Tel. +49 6621 4079080
Fax +49 6621 4079081
Mobil +49 170 3410818
buedi-baumbach@gmx.de
I belong to Nentershausen and you can see my former farm ( gave it to a son) on www.gutshof-baumbach.de I spend the best year of my life in San Jose, Cal, in 1958 as an exchange student. I go there for the 60th graduation in September. Yours sincerely, They call me Fred or Buedi 06-03-2019
NOTE: Germany is 6 hours ahead of eastern united states. e.g. 3pm ET is 9pm in Germany
William James Baumbach II
2380 Mountain Road
Haymarket, Virginia 20169
Phone: 703-791-9522
William@Baumbach.com
USA Non-Profit
It has been looked into to see if there could be a non-profit association setup here in the USA but we are being told we cannot do this and send the money to anther country like Germany. If you have any ideas please contact us
During the 2000 reunion the below information was made.
For a limited time while supplies last you can order 120 4x6 color print pictures and a two-hour VHS videotape of the Baumbach Castle in Germany.
Baumbach or Tannenberg
It is my understanding that the name was changed from the Baumbach castle to Tannenberg castle and the Baumbach ownership was removed and replaced with The Friends of Tannenberg a non-profit association. The reasons for this are, the Baumbach family could not afford to repair it and as long as the Baumbach family owned it the people in the town of Nentershausen would have no interest in it. By changing the name to Tannenberg and making the ownership public through membership in the The Friends of Tannenberg it is hoped that the towns people and others will be willing to provide the much needed money to restore it.
baumbach.nentershausen@t-online.de
Mon, 24 Dec 2001
Hallo to all American Friends!!!
I hesitate with the usual "merry Christmas" words because of all theses terrible poorness in the world . But I wish you and your families a good year 2002 and stay as healthy as possible.
I try to send you pictures and hope it will work.
In September Marc and his friends found romantic arches in the castle with a stone of a romantic column.
Then we started with the installation of water and heating and suddenly an American Check from Georgia arrived.
I took a picture with the check in front of the ditches we had to dig to connect the two sides of the castle. the heating will be on the left side.
So, you see things are going on and your money is and will be invested in a good purpose.
So, now Christmas can come and I hope Christa too, who visits her daughters. Remember the castle festival on the 14th of Sept. 2002.
Always your friend Friedrich!
Friedrich Wilhelm von Baumbach
Gutsstr. 8
36214 Nentershausen
Germany
Tel.: +496627-553
Fax: +496627-8624
mailto: info@von-baumbach.de <mailto:info@von-baumbach.de>
homepage: http://www.von-baumbach.de
Friedrich holding the check
Some of the piping inside the castle.
Ditch work for the piping inside the castle walls.
Romantic arches in the castle with a stone of a romantic column.
Von: Gutshof v. Baumbach [mailto: info@von-baumbach.de ]
Gesendet: Donnerstag, 23. Juni 2005 08:40
An: Baumbachs-owner@Baumbach.com
Betreff: Weberstedt
Hallo, William Baumbach send me your mail to Germany. We live in a little village where the Baumbach Castle still exists since the 13th century in the state of Hessen-former West-Germany. about 30 KM from here is Weberstedt in Thueringen-former East Germany. near the famous town of Eisenach with the Castle of "Wartburg "where Martin Luther was captured and translated the Bible . With best regards yours
Friedrich-Wilhelm von Baumbach
buedi@von-baumbach.de
Finkenweg 81
36251 Bad Hersfeld
Tel (0) 66221-407908-0 oder-1
Mob (0) 170-3410818
New address 08-2010
Gutshof
36214 Nentershausen
Tel 06627-553
Fax 06627 8624
Internet : www.von-baumbach.de working Baumbach Mediation 09-14-23
notes to self 12-04-2001: cost him $30dm to deposit check from US.
now have 170 members, need 200 to get loan of $50,000.00dm with 5% interest. needed for expensive plumbing and electrical work
two dues levels
$49dm
$96dm
$1DM = 0.4557US$
they made $10,000.00dm at 2001 festival
need to convert this site to English http://www.allerley.de/
From: Büdi von Baumbach [mailto:buedi@von-baumbach.de]
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 8:34 AM
Subject: Tannenberg- castle
Hi my friends, -long time-no hear- as we say in perfect English. But things with the castle are going very well. I am not living in Nentershausen any more. We moved to Bad Hersfeld a year ago. My son Marc had the good idea to have a day of the shovel once a month to restore the oldest part of the castle. I send you a picture from the old site in the 18th century and a few from the situation now. It would be nice if you could help a little bit. See you and stay healthy, yours.
Friedrich-Wilhelm (Büdi) von Baumbach
Finkenweg 81
36251 Bad Hersfeld
Tel (0) 6621-407908-0 oder -1
Mob (0) 170-3410818
Here are some pictures sent to me on 08-18-2010 showing the progress.
Friedrich emailed me this picutre, which is his favorite of him and his brother Bodo, who died in 2000. Added 11-04-14.
Baumbach Worldwide Family Reunion 2000.
All Baumbach family members were invited to a meeting in Germany on September 9th 2000 for a worldwide family reunion. The owners of the Baumbach Castle, Friedrich-Wilhelm and Bodo Von Baumbach invited all Baumbachs from around the World to join in one big family meeting/reunion at the Baumbach Castle located in Tannenberg, Germany.
baumbach.pdfA Florida newspaper article about the 2000 reunion
I have a relative that lives in Florida who mailed my mother in Virginia the below copy of a newspaper article that was published about 12-2000 in a newspaper in Florida. I am not sure what newspaper it was.
This is “funny” depending on how you look at it. There is a misunderstanding by someone (Ray Baumbach or the reporter Glenna) that thinks Friedrich-Wilhelm v.Baumbach of Germany and (ME) William J. Baumbach II of Fairfax, Virginia are brothers and both own the Baumbach castle.
I thought you would enjoy reading it.
This just proves you can’t believe everything you read.
We are not brothers, and I have no ownership in the Castle.
Baumbach Estate Rent Apartment's in Germany
Visit and spend the night at the Baumbach Castle in Germany
The von Baumbachs of Germany have several apartment, barns, farm life living, similar to a bed and breakfast, etc. they rent. See their website for details https://gutshof-baumbach.de
Farm complex from the 17th century with 8 spacious holiday apartments and holiday homes from 45 - 155m². The surrounding park areas, orchards and pastures offer plenty of open space, places to lay down, but also quiet places to relax. There is a campfire area, hayloft, horseback riding, small animal garden, wood-fired pizza and much more. Groups and families meet in the community barn with a separate lounge, dining and seminar room.
The Baumbach estate has its own climate-friendly energy supply with solar energy and wood chip heating. The apartments are fully equipped. The prices include bed linen, towels, stove wood, pizza baking and all additional costs including final cleaning.
We wish all our guests a relaxing and eventful holiday, warmly,
Werner Martin & Christiane Jahn