We had the pleasure of visiting four local enterprises in the Lower Saxony region—a castle, two farms, and a forestry operation. We were welcomed with open arms at each location and given a grand tour of all four operations. As we explored each site, one thing was abundantly clear; in Germany, the family is above all. Each owner expressed to us the importance of setting the next generations up for success in their current family ventures.
Schloss Hämelschenburg
We had the most beautiful tour of this family-owned castle. Te Hämelschenburg manor has been owned by the von Klencke family since 1437. Te castle was built about 150 years later and is wholly preserved today. Lucky for us, the current von Klencke, who owns the castle, asked his mother, an American, to give us a tour. We thoroughly enjoyed her knowledge of the property and of her husband's family.