Events. Schloss Neubeuern.
Celebration of the anniversary
25.07.2025
Under the motto “Strengthening the roots. Expanding the horizon”, the Schloss Neubeuern boarding school celebrated its centenary at the beginning of 2025. After the kick-off event in January – a musical New Year’s reception – the school launched an internal joint project with pupils and teachers. Throughout the year, a total of nine project groups explored topics in which school history meets the future. The results of the project work culminated in a project week from 20 to 27 July, which culminated in the summer festival weekend.
Proud of one hundred years of school – one hundred years of freedom of thought, responsibility in action and trust in cooperation
On Friday 25 July at 2 p.m., a large ceremony was held in the school’s Rolf Braun sports hall as part of the summer festival. Around 360 pupils, staff, parents and guests marvelled at the sensational stage, which had been specially designed and created for the play “Schlossmomente – ein Schloss erzählt”.
Together with its long-standing partner “Gschwendtner Veranstaltungstechnik München”, the foundation designed a spectacular music and theatre stage, which also provided a worthy podium for all the speakers at the ceremony. A large screen presented messages, such as film clips, and created the right atmosphere for the six scenes of the theatre play with specially AI-illustrated background motifs.
The team of teachers Christina Antholzner, Matthias Friedel, Felix Baumann, Helga Kaußen-Mandelartz and Christina Rothmayer already grew close to the twenty-four-strong group of pupils during their rehearsals for the play and the musical interludes. The passion and joy of the musicians and actors were clearly evident – the entertaining retelling of the history of Schule Schloss Neubeuern was a great success.
Schloss Neubeuern is much more than a school. It is a place of ideas.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the foundation’s board members Thomas Straßer and Jörg Schönfeld welcomed the guests. They shed light on the foundation and development of the school from both an idealistic and a financial perspective. Jörg Schönfeld emphasised that the continued existence of an institution such as Schule Schloss Neubeuern over an entire century cannot be taken for granted. Political crises, economic volatility, demographic changes and the preservation of the property have characterised the school’s challenges to this day. The fact that it stands on firm foundations today is thanks to the commitment of numerous supporters, the trust of parents, pupils and a special team of employees, for which he expressed his sincere thanks on behalf of the foundation.
Headmaster Thomas Straßer added to this view by referring to the school’s firmly anchored philosophy: for a hundred years, Schloss Neubeuern has been helping young people – both in the boarding school and in the day school – to grow into independent, discerning personalities. In an environment that promotes attitude, demands performance and fosters community. What was boldly conceived at the time – the revolutionary educational reform concept of school as a living space – is now part of the school’s everyday life and the responsibility it sees for itself. Thomas Straßer emphasised that what makes Schule Schloss Neubeuern really strong is its people: Teachers who not only teach, but also accompany – boarding school teachers who are there for their groups day and night – staff who carry out everyday life with professionalism – and of course the students, because they make this place lively, colourful, challenging and surprising and, with their commitment and personality, carry on the values that Schloss Neubeuern has stood for since 1925: Freedom of thought, responsibility in action, trust in cooperation.
With a view to the future
Afterwards, the contributions of the guest speakers also expressed great appreciation for the school – for the past hundred years, but also for the confident outlook for the future.
District Administrator Otto Lederer encouraged the school to intensify its commitment to science and Gabriele Kiermeier from the Bavarian State Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs spoke with great respect of the Neubeur community’s attachment to their school – far beyond their own school days.
Christoph Schneider, first mayor of the market town, expressed his heartfelt thanks with a painting by Neubeur artist Xandi Fradl for the good relationship between the community and the castle and the good preservation of this historic property by the foundation.
Dr Wolfgang Bracker also spoke in the same spirit on behalf of the Association of Friends & Sponsors of Neubeuern Castle School. He reminded those present of the need for their support through donations – currently, he told the parents, former pupils and guests, the renovation of the “Trüperhaus” dormitory is once again challenging the foundation.
"Dr Thomas Strüngmann MINT Centre"
The refurbishment of the west wing was only completed this year. The establishment of the modern STEM centre on the ground floor would not have been possible without former pupil and later curator Dr Thomas Strüngmann. The speech by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees Mathis Wilke referred to this valuable service to the school – he solemnly announced the naming of the STEM Centre as the “Dr. Thomas Strüngmann STEM Centre”.
Dr Thomas Strüngmann, himself a pupil at Schloss Neubeuern from 1963 to 1970 and a former member of the Board of Trustees, is now a shareholder of the Schloss Neubeuern Scholarship Foundation. He was very touched by the naming of his honour and remembered his friends Klaus Krone and Helmut Nanz, who were both unable to be there on this special day. Like him, as former pupils they had never forgotten their gratitude towards a school like Schloss Neubeuern and had also held a protective hand over the boarding school. Dr Strüngmann particularly emphasised the value of tolerance in his speech – in recognition of what Schloss Neubeuern means to him, but also as an appeal to those present to always remember this value and continue to stick together.
A place of growth and development
The Chairwoman of the Parents’ Council, Dr Anna-Karina Mehl, and the Chairwoman of the Student Council, Alina Kraus, made a joint speech in honour of the boarding school. “It feels a bit like a big family reunion” – both referred very emotionally to the importance of Schloss Neubeuern as a second home and an important preparation for exploring the world in a value-orientated way. On behalf of the parents, Mrs Mehl spoke out in favour of continuing to support what makes this school so special for them – not just the thick walls and the location above the Inn, but the values that are lived at Schloss Neubeuern: Responsibility, curiosity and a sense of community.
Alina Kraus spoke of the pride of all pupils in being part of Neubeuern’s tradition – but also part of the future. Her generation is facing major challenges such as climate change, digitalisation and social cohesion, and Schloss Neubeuern offers the space not only to ask questions about these issues, but also to help shape them.
Grateful for a special moment
Head of boarding school Susanne Schörghuber thanked all pupils and staff for their contributions to the anniversary year – especially to the ceremony – and invited all those present to a reception on the south terrace and to view the exhibitions.
On the first floor of the castle, a chronological timeline illustrates 100 years of the history of Schule Schloss Neubeuern. Since January, this exhibition has grown by a decade month by month. What staff and pupils had followed with interest could now be seen by guests in the exhibition as a whole.
Despite the bad weather, the rain spared the guests until the end of the reception – so everyone was able to enjoy coffee, cake and finger food on the beautiful south-facing terrace with a view of the expanse of the Inn Valley, rejoice in their Neubeuern roots – and broaden their horizons once again in dialogue with many friends.
Katrin Burkamp
Festakt with reception
The ceremony began at 2 p.m. in the Rolf Braun sports hall – around 360 guests were treated to an entertaining programme with a spectacular play and wonderful music.
Afterwards, the “Timeline” exhibition in the castle was open to the public and a toast to one hundred years of Schule Schloss Neubeuern was raised at the reception on the south terrace.
