Many people dream of owning a real castle, but only a few are fortunate enough to turn that dream into reality. Ninety-year-old Werner is one of them. He bought the medieval ruin of Castle Gießen in Kressbronn on Lake Constance, Germany, and transformed it—entirely with his own hands—into the castle of his dreams, German broadcaster SWR reports.
From crumbling tower to luxurious castle
Fifty years ago, Gießen castle was little more than a ruin. Walls were crumbling, the tower was close to collapse, and few people could imagine a future for the place. Werner could. Despite its dilapidated condition, he bought the castle for 200,000 Deutschmarks, moved in immediately, and began restoring it with nothing more than his own hands and a lot of will power.
From the very start, Werner took the most hands-on approach imaginable. He installed new electrical wiring and heating, rebuilt walls, laid floors, and constructed ceilings. The most dramatic feat was saving the ancient castle tower, which was literally on the brink of falling apart. Restoring it was a risky and spectacular undertaking, but Werner never shied away from hard physical work. Hiring professional restorers was financially impossible, even though at the time he worked full-time as an optician and hearing-aid specialist.
“You have to be a little crazy to start something like this,” Werner told the reporter from SWR with a smile. “And that’s exactly what I am.”
Inventiveness as a way of life
Restoring a castle on your own requires not only perseverance, but creativity. Werner constantly had to improvise to overcome the countless challenges that came with the renovation. One striking example is the balustrade of the terrace at the tower entrance. Rather than commissioning an expensive custom piece, he salvaged an old bridge railing from Friedrichshafen and reshaped it himself—using the weight of a tractor, his welding equipment, and sheer physical strength.
His workshop reflects this inventive spirit. Alongside a welding machine, it contains a solution for nearly every conceivable DIY problem: all kinds of saws, angle grinders, milling machines, drills, nails, screws, cables, and more. Often, there are several versions of the same tool on hand. Speaking of hands: Werner lost several fingers while building his dream castle, but it doesn’t seem to trouble the ninety-year-old at all.
One of Werner’s most remarkable achievements emerged during the reconstruction of the tower walls. Standing in a crane he had built himself, he carefully cleaned every single stone, removing decades of moss and grime. He then placed each stone back into position, reinforcing and sealing it with a special mortar of his own invention.
A shared life filled with art
Nearly twenty years ago, Wilfried entered Werner’s life, and with him came an abundance of art and antiques. Wilfried has spent decades collecting furniture, porcelain, and artworks. He is also an artist himself, and several castle walls display his work. As he says with a laugh, he is still searching for his own style.
When it comes to porcelain, however, he has no doubts. Fine, elegant porcelain is his guilty pleasure, and the collection throughout the castle reflects a deep appreciation for craftsmanship and beauty.
Wilfried speaks affectionately about his partner: “Planning and designing—that’s where Werner truly comes alive. And he never chooses the easy route. It always has to be complicated. That’s what he enjoys.” It is precisely this trait, he believes, that defines Werner’s character and makes the castle what it is today.
A castle with a future
Over the decades, Werner has documented the transformation of Castle Gießen with his camera. A passionate amateur filmmaker, he recorded how a neglected ruin slowly became a jewel. Today, he and Wilfried walk through the castle with visible pride, fully aware that they are living inside the work of their lifetime.
Yet the story does not end with them. Their greatest wish is for the castle to one day be transferred to a foundation and opened to the public. They envision it as a place for culture, encounters, and inspiration—a space where history, creativity, and community can come together.
From a collapsing tower to a living monument, the castle stands as a testament to what determination, craftsmanship, and a touch of “madness” can achieve.
source: SWR.de
