The Schloss Mentin estate, home to our arts centre, has a long and diverse history. Below is a historical overview—from its early beginnings to the present—compiled from available historical records and a collection of personal accounts from former residents, which we have gathered since 2022.
Photograph of the Ritterhaus Mentin in 1912 © Private collector.
Early Beginnings & The Von Kopplow Era (1338–1750)
The village of Mentin was first recorded in 1338, its name derived from the Old Slavic word mątŭ. Some interpretations link it to "thought" and "mind," suggesting a place of contemplation or retreat, while others associate it with "cloudy water," possibly referring to a nearby turbid water source. Regardless of its exact meaning, Mentin’s name reflects a deep connection to nature, a characteristic that continues to shape its identity today.
By the 16th century, Mentin had developed into a structured feudal estate under the von Kopplow family, who controlled not only Mentin but also several neighbouring villages, including Griebow, Meierstorf, Ruhn, Möllenbeck, Repzin, and Malow.
Between 1542 and 1750, the von Kopplow family transformed the estate into a centre of craftsmanship. Around 1720, they established a glassworks in its outbuildings, followed by a spirit distillery in 1750. Under their management, Mentin became both a symbol of aristocratic power and a key contributor to the local and regional economy. However, by the mid-18th century, shifting economic conditions and growing competition began to challenge its profitability, setting the stage for future ownership changes.
"Alchemist's laboratory" by Matthäus Merian, illustrating craftsmanship in glassworks and distillation on the 17th century. Public domain.
Ritterhaus & Ownership Transitions (1750 – 1912)
By the mid-18th century, Mentin changed hands as wealthy non-nobles began acquiring estates from the aristocracy. A key moment in this transition was the construction of Schloss Mentin on the foundation of the former Ritterhaus, which had existed long before its transformation.
In 1801, Rittmeister Gottfried von Zieten acquired Mentin and Griebow but sold them a year later to Joachim Hermann F. Franke, a Mecklenburg-Schwerin official. Financial struggles forced Franke to sell the estate in 1808 to Franz Baron von Roll, who later went bankrupt in 1816. Stability returned under Ludwig von Klitzing (1816–1847), a Ritterschaftsrat who focused on agricultural development and maintained the estate’s distillery.
In 1847, the Bade brothers expanded both industry and agriculture, adding a brickworks, a spirit distillery, and a smithy. In 1882, Rittmeister Hermann von Pressentin modernised operations, followed by Hans Ludwig Hartmann in 1905, who strengthened the estate’s connections to regional markets.
A significant shift occurred in 1908, when industrialist Alexander Boek acquired Mentin, marking its transition from noble to industrialist ownership. Though sometimes credited with commissioning Schloss Mentin, Boek primarily served as an intermediary owner. The Ritterhaus remained the estate’s centre of administration and residence.
In 1912, Boek sold the estate to Artur von Poensgen, beginning its next chapter.
Schloss Mentin in the 1920’s © Public Domain
Transformation & Early 20th Century (1912–1939)
In 1912, industrialist Artur von Poensgen commissioned German architect Paul Korff to redesign the estate’s Ritterhaus into a neo-Baroque Schloss, reflecting early 20th-century architectural trends. The project, costing 1 million German Goldmarks, symbolised the shift from aristocratic to industrial wealth as a marker of prestige.
Although Poensgen came from the prominent Poensgen family in the iron and steel industry, his acquisition of Schloss Mentin was independent, driven by his personal interest in real estate and architecture. That same year, he funded the construction of a dam and a chestnut-lined avenue linking Mentin to Suckow, reshaping the surrounding landscape.
In 1914, just two years after the estate’s redevelopment, Poensgen sold Schloss Mentin to the Willenburg brothers, who soon resold it to bank director Keup under American trusteeship. In 1916, the Neuerburg family, influential in the German tobacco industry, acquired the estate as a prestigious summer residence. Their company, Haus Neuerburg, later merged with Reemtsma in 1937 under the Nazi regime, further solidifying Reemtsma’s dominance in the tobacco market. That same year, the Mentin-Griebow estate had 195 inhabitants, 722 hectares of land, a school, 11 hereditary farms, four settler sites, and a distillery.
By 1939, economic pressures and limited use led the Neuerburg family to lease Schloss Mentin to the State of Mecklenburg. Financial struggles, combined with the Nazi government’s increasing control over land ownership, accelerated the transition from private aristocratic estates to state-managed properties.
World War II (1939–1945)
During World War II, Schloss Mentin was repurposed as a maternity home under the State of Mecklenburg, part of a broader effort to convert rural estates into medical facilities as urban infrastructure struggled under the pressures of war. While some maternity homes in Nazi Germany were linked to the Lebensborn programme, there is no evidence that Schloss Mentin was involved. Instead, it appears to have functioned as a general maternity home, providing care for expectant mothers and newborns.
Meanwhile, the surrounding villages bore witness to the horrors of the Sachsenhausen death march. In April 1945, more than 33,000 prisoners from the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, near Berlin, were forced to march northwest under brutal conditions. Many perished from exhaustion, starvation, or execution before Soviet and American forces liberated the survivors.
Schloss Mentin in the 1960’s © Thorsten Ebert
Kinderheim (1946–1996)
After World War II, Schloss Mentin became a state-run Kinderheim (children’s home). Unlike many Kinderheime under the German Democratic Republic (GDR), it is remembered by many former residents as a place of care and support. Some still visit today, recalling strong friendships and dedicated caretakers who provided a sense of stability.
The children came from diverse backgrounds—some were orphans, while others had been removed from their families due to hardship or political persecution. Despite these challenges, many found community and belonging at the Kinderheim.
During this time, the interiors of Schloss Mentin were adapted for communal living. Dormitories replaced bedrooms, dining halls took over reception rooms, and former salons became shared study and activity spaces. Service buildings, including the distillery and barns, were converted into vocational training workshops, where older children learned carpentry, mechanics, and agriculture—skills essential for their future.
In 1978, filmmaker Angelika Andrees documented life at Schloss Mentin in her film Heim (Children’s Home). Its unscripted portrayal of daily routines and relationships led to censorship until 1990, as it did not fully align with the GDR’s official narrative.
By the 1980s, economic shifts in East Germany began to affect daily life at the Kinderheim. The completion of the BAB 24 autobahn disrupted trade routes, leading to supply shortages. Staff often had to barter with local farms for food and materials.
Following German reunification in 1990, childcare reforms led to the closure of many former GDR institutions. Schloss Mentin ceased operations as a Kinderheim in 1996.
Renovations & Attempts at Commercial Use (1996–2021)
After the Kinderheim closure, the estate faced uncertainty amid Germany’s post-reunification economic and social shifts. With the collapse of state-run farms and the loss of government subsidies, regional unemployment rose, leaving many institutional properties in limbo. While some former residents reintegrated successfully, government reports indicate that 22% experienced homelessness within six months.
That same year, a private investor purchased Schloss Mentin, aiming to convert it into a hotel and vintage automobile museum. Despite initial restoration efforts, financial losses and conflicts with historic preservation laws—particularly over proposed demolitions for parking—halted progress. A brief museum opening failed to attract visitors, leading to its closure in 2003. By 2007, mounting debt and bureaucratic hurdles forced the investor to abandon the project, leaving the estate vacant and back on the market.
Nearly a decade later, in 2013, a new investor acquired Schloss Mentin and began extensive renovations, focusing on structural repairs, modernising electrical, heating, and water systems, and restoring the overgrown park to revive its historic landscape. The goal was to preserve the estate’s heritage while transforming it into a five-star resort.
By 2016, significant progress had been made, but efforts to establish a luxury hotel faced challenges. Investor hesitation—fuelled by market downturns following the 2008 financial crisis—and concerns over the estate’s proximity to the A24 autobahn cast doubt on its viability as a high-end wellness retreat.
Schloss Mentin in 2017 after renovations © Schloss Mentin Verwaltungs GmbH
Arts Centre (2022–Present)
While new plans were being developed for Schloss Mentin’s main building, its outbuildings remained without a clear purpose. That changed in early 2022, when Something Great arrived with a vision: to transform the historic outbuildings into venues for an international performing arts centre, the Something Great – Zentrum für zeitgenössische darstellende Künste.
With support from TANZPAKT Reconnect / Neustart Kultur and in partnership with Schloss Mentin’s owners, the project gained momentum, repurposing several outbuildings as spaces for arts and culture, as well as guest artist accommodation.
Since then, the centre has welcomed artists from around the world for temporary residencies, supporting their projects while fostering cultural exchange and local community gatherings through public events. These programmes have also led to the occasional reopening of Schloss Mentin’s main building, allowing former residents and visitors—many returning after decades—to step inside once again. The centre continues to expand within the estate, with additional outbuildings set for renovation in the coming years.
Meanwhile, while the outbuildings remain dedicated to the arts centre, plans for the main building shifted when prospective buyers withdrew in 2023 for private reasons. Instead of selling, the owners decided to transform it into a healthcare training facility under their own management. Set to open in 2026, it will provide intensive training and language preparation for foreign professionals entering the German healthcare system.
This new chapter reinforces Schloss Mentin’s evolving role—not only as a centre for arts, culture, and community but also for education. What the future holds remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: life is returning to Schloss Mentin, and its story is far from over.